Sikh American Spotlight: Tejinder Singh Stands Up for Truth Before Supreme Court SALDEF Executive Director receives Distinguished Alumni Award from Alma Mater Hate Crime Update: Man Arrested in 2013 Attack Against Columbia Professor SikhLEAD Spotlight: Amrita Bamrah and SSA Feeds Thousands in On Campus Langar Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Highlights: Obama Calls Attention To Bias Against Sikh Americans Help #El Paso 37 Seek Asylum SALDEF meets with Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board Sikh Scholarship Opportunities (ASP; 5 Rivers)
Sikh American Spotlight: Tejinder Singh Stands Up for Truth Before Supreme Court 
Tejinder Singh, a lawyer at Goldstein and Russell, P.C. became the first Sikh American to argue in front of the Supreme Court in Edward vs. Lane on April 28. Singh represented Edward Lane, an employee at a community college program who was terminated from his job after he testified against a corrupt state representative in a federal fraud trial. Singh asked the court to evaluate whether Mr. Lane’s testimony was protected under the first amendment’s right to free speech.
“I was privileged to help Edward, who is a hero: he stood up and told the truth, even though it cost him a lucrative job. It’s wonderful to represent people like him, and I’m lucky that my job lets me do so. The fact that I got to stand in front of the Justices is secondary.”
Singh, a graduate of Harvard Law School, has been involved with SALDEF for years and instrumental in mentoring several of SALDEF’s SikhLEAD participants.
“I’ve been familiar with SALDEF’s work for more than a decade now, and have seen the organization do wonderful work for a tremendous number of people. It’s also proven to be an invaluable organization during times of crisis, like when CNN was trying to wrap its arms around the Oak Creek gurdwara shooting.”
Want to learn more about Tejinder Singh? Find out why the truth defender tediously loads a dishwasher and lives by YOLO. What is your greatest strength? I have excellent taste in friends. Greatest weakness? I am bizarrely picky about how I load the dishwasher. Trait you deplore most in others? Cruelty. Trait you love most in others? Generosity. Motto? YOLO? (YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE) That’s what the kids are saying anyway.Idea of perfect happiness? Is there such a thing as imperfect happiness? Where and when are you happiest? Probably as a baby; it doesn’t get much better than that. I’m also happy now. If you could change something about yourself what would it be? I would never ever again chew with my mouth open. Most treasured possession? Nah; everything’s replaceable. Favorite writer? Michael Lewis. Favorite book? This week, I like Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Pikkety; last week I liked the Eleven Madison Park Cookbook by Daniel Humm; next week who knows.Person you admire most? My wife Anna. Favorite occupation? Teacher. What would you go back and tell your younger self today? Buy more Google stock.
SALDEF Executive Director Receives 2014 University of Illinois Outstanding Asian American Alumni Award 
On April 21, 2014, at the 19th annual Asian American Leadership Awards in Champaign, Illinois, The Asian American Cultural Center honored Sikh American civil rights advocate Jasjit Singh with its 2014 University of Illinois Outstanding Asian American Alumni Award, recognizing him for outstanding contributions to the Asian American community, exceptional success in his professional career, and meritorious service supporting the mission of the University.
“As executive director of SALDEF, Jasjit Singh has become a leading voice for social justice in the Asian American community. Jasjit has been a passionate voice for the Sikh Americans and the challenges that they face since his days at the University of Illinois,” said David Chih, AACC director and assistant dean of students.
“I’m deeply honored to receive this award from the University of Illinois and the Asian American Cultural Center,” said Jasjit Singh. “It was the leadership opportunities that I had on campus and the lifelong connections with mentors and friends that began at Illinois that inspired me to become an activist and choose a career of service. I am indebted to the University and my community for their support over the years.”
While on campus to receive the award, Singh was invited to address students and faculty at the Asian American Cultural Center’s weekly speaker series, Food for Thought. His talk, “The Sikh American Experience – Challenges and Opportunities,” was attended by about 100 students and faculty.
Hate Crime Update: Man Arrested in 2013 Attack Against Columbia Professor On April 20, the NYPD arrested a man suspected of participating in the hate crime attack against physician and Columbia University Professor Prabhjot Singh. Christian Morales, 20, is accused of pulling Singh’s beard as the attack began. Morales is being charged with aggravated harassment and committing a hate crime.
Singh was brutally attacked in the evening, September 21, after he went for a walk along the north side of Central park in his Harlem neighborhood. Treated for injuries including a broken jaw, he returned to work a few days later. “I think it’s critical to see that this is not the community we expect, and certainly not the country we expect,” Singh said at the press conference. “It’s not the Harlem I know, and it’s certainly not going to change how I move around that neighborhood.”
SikhLEAD Spotlight: Amrita Bamrah and SSA Serve Thousands in On Campus Langar 
This year, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Sikh Student Association—led by SALDEF SikhLEADer and SSA President Amrita Kaur Bamrah— hosted its second annual Langar on Campus.
“Langar on Campus started out as an idea that my friend (and Co-President of SSA) and I had gotten from a video online. At the time, we knew pulling off such an event would not be easy and would require months of hard work,” Bamrah explained. “My experience withSALDEF and within the SikhLEAD program gave me the confidence that I needed to believe that a Langar on Campus could happen. Because of SALDEF I understood the urgency and need for such activism. I learned about how these local acts of building awareness have a direct impact on the overall Sikh American community. The SikhLEAD program provided not only tools of knowledge that helped me throughout the process of organizing the event, but also with a network of mentors across the country that supported me throughout the process.”
The event, created in a large tent set up in a central outdoor location on campus, resembled a Langar hall, with light kirtan playing in the background. Students were asked to remove their shoes, cover their heads, and sit on the floor while eating rajma, aloo sabji, chaat, and other foods.
Langar on Campus is an effort to spread awareness and expose the campus community to Sikh Americans. The goal of the Langar was to break negative misconceptions about the Sikh American community, and to show students and faculty that Sikhs believe in equality, peace, and humanity.
“The day of the Langar was perhaps the most overwhelming, humbling, and rewarding day of many of our lives,” Bamrah remarked. “As students walked out of the tent after having Langar, they expressed their deep gratitude for not only the food, but for teaching them about Sikhs Americans. Students walked by the tent and complimented our turbans. They came back once, twice, and even three times with their friends. In a span of six hours, we were able to feed over 2,000 people and teach them about Sikh Americans.”
Read more about the langar in The Daily Illini or the Champaign News Gazette.
Rounding out her senior year, Amrita Kaur has proven herself quite a leader not only at the University of Illinois but for the entire Sikh American community. Find out why Ambar India makes her weak in the knees and a whole lot more….What is your idea of a good leader? Inclusive, Compassionate, Bold, and Dedicated What did you love about your SALDEF experience? Everything. From the path that it put me on to the doors that it opened for me. What characteristic do you hate in people? Inflated egos Love in others?Forthcoming, welcoming attitudes Who do you admire? My mom, she’s the light of my life. What advice would you give to your younger self today? Don’t change yourself based on the situations you are in. You do you! What would your friends say is your greatest strength? Maintaining balance Weakness? Ambar India, a Punjabi buffet on campus that I claim to hate yet continue to eat three times a week. Who would you like to meet (anyone, dead or alive)? My Nana Ji. He’s the reason my mom is who she is and she’s the reason I am who I am. Why should someone support SALDEF? It creates a lineage of Sikh Americans who are committed to building an enriched environment for our community. What phrases do you overuse? Every time something negative happens to me, I tend to scream “bye!” and move on. Anyone who knows me expects the words “I’m hungry” to come out of my mouth at least every two hours; it drives them crazy. What is your motto? No matter what happens “I keep dancing on my own.”
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Highlights: Obama Calls Attention to Struggles of Sikh Americans On May 1, 2014, President Obama proclaimed May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. While recognizing the many ways Asian Americans have contributed to the United States as laborers and leaders, he also acknowledged the battles Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have fought, specifically mentioning the suspicion and violence Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs continue to face today. Read President Obama’s full remarks.
As an executive committee member of NCAPA, the Coalition of leading National Asian American Organizations, SALDEF participated in events highlighting various aspects of Asian American heritage (visit @SALDEF to see our tweets and photos from the week’s events). Kicking off AAPI month, The White House hosted the Asian American and Pacific Islander Month Opening Ceremony.
And celebrating the 20th Anniversary of it’s founding—by former Congressman, Secretary of Transportation, and SALDEF Honoree Norman Mineta— the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) hosted the 2014 Congressional Symposium featuring remarks from Congressional Leadership about the power of standing together to create progress.
The SALDEF team also celebrated Asian American leadership and accomplishments in the military—like those of Sikh American Army Major, Kamaljit Singh Kalsi‚ at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies’ (APAICS) Military Leadership Luncheon honoring Admiral Harry Harris.
SALDEF represented Sikh Americans at the APAICS gala that evening honoring Sikh American caucus co-Chair Judy Chu and Navy Admiral Harry Harris. The keynote address was given by Asian American actor and activist, George Takei, best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek. Speaker Nancy Pelosi also addressed the gathering remarking on the power of a community coming together and forming strong relationships like those of SALDEF and APAICS.
To honor and celebrate the first Sikh American, and Asian American leader in Congress, the late CA-Rep Dalip Singh Saund, the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) and the U.S. Capitol Historical Society hosted a screening of Dalip Singh Saund: His Life, His Legacy at the Major Picture Association of America in Washington, D.C. Speakers included Senator Chris Dodd who introduced the film, Judy Chu, Co-Chair of the Sikh American Caucus, and Representative Mike Honda who greeted the audience with “Sat Sri Akal” while remarking about the responsibility of all Asian Americans to continue Asian American leadership in govt. (Check out SALDEF’s SikhLEAD program to learn more about how you, or a young person you know, can work and gain leadership training in D.C.) Representative Mark Takano felt that Saund was among the more undervalued figures in history. While Representative Ami Berra said the story of Congressman Saund was his story and the collective story of all Asian Americans.
In an effort to make data on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders accessible, University of California- Riverside Professor Karthick Ramakrishnan launched a timely new study (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders report series) from his AAPI Data project in time for AAPI Heritage month. As director of the project he hopes to encourage more AAPI’s to study and share new and timely stats on the minority community. On May 7, 2014, AAPI Data organized a historic gathering of AAPI researchers in Washington, DC: The Emerging Majority: Where do Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Fit In? MSNBC Anchor Richard Lui co-hosted the event and stressed the importance of offering new and compelling data to drive news stories. Wade Henderson who also co-hosted the event also spoke about the importance of data, but with regards to advocacy work. SALDEF was among nine organizations invited to present information. Policy Director Navdeep Singh engaged the audience with the SALDEF/Stanford innovative study, Turban Myths. Read more about AAPI Data’s event or visit @SALDEF to see tweets and photos from the event.
Also launched in time for APA Heritage month, AAPI Voices a data and storytelling platform developed by Asian American activist organization 18 Million Rising and UC Riverside Professor Karthick Ramakrishnan to feature data-inspired feature writing and provocative short pieces relating to AAPI communities and AAPI experiences. The goal is to bring together compelling data and the writing talent of the vibrant AAPI journalist, blogger and academic communities, to inspire more news coverage and a public understanding of key aspects and features of the rapidly growing and changing AAPI populations. AAPI Voices is seeking proposals throughout APA Heritage Month. Learn more about AAPI Voices or submit a proposal.
Help the #El Paso 37 Seek Asylum From Indian Govt. 
Last year a group of Sikh men fled India fearing for their lives and arrived in the United States seeking safety and freedom. Instead, they have been detained for nearly a year at the El Paso Immigration and Customs Enforcement Processing Center.
18MillionRising and Jakara Movement launched the #ElPaso37 campaign to both increase pressure on ICE to release these detainees, and to boost media coverage of this story. On April 16, 2014, ten days after it began, a hunger strike ended amid promises from ICE that the detainees’ paperwork would quickly move forward. Thus far, 1 detainee has been paroled and 2 others have been granted a change of venue in efforts to increase their odds of being released. While it’s clear that these three parole and venue change cases are in direct response 18MR’s #ElPaso37 campaignand public outcry, over 30 more detainees remain trapped in El Paso – many of whom have little or no legal representation.
SALDEF supports and is assisting campaign leaders from 18 Million Rising and Jakara Movement by encouraging Sikh Americans to write about this issue in op-eds, twitter, facebook and medium and encouraging Sikh Americans to sign petitions to help the Sikh men gain political asylum in the U.S. To learn more please visit 18MillionRising or sign Jakara Movement’s petition.
SALDEF Meets with PCLOB SALDEF joined a coalition of Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian organizations for a meeting with the leadership of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) in Washington DC. At the gathering, the organizations engaged in a discussion about surveillance and the investigation of minority communities, treatment of minority communities by law enforcement, and screening of members of the Sikh community at the airport. The PCLOB is tasked by Congress and the President with conducting reviews of national security and intelligence policies to ensure that civil liberties and privacy rights are protected. They will include information from the meeting and present it in their next report for Congress later this year.
Apply Now! Two Scholarship Programs for College Students 
The Association of Sikh Professionals is offering a scholarship to college bound students, ranging from $400 to $4000 per year. Awards are in the form of scholarships, grants through endowments, and interest-free loans (repayment expected after graduation). Financial need is taken into consideration, as well as academic ability and involvement in Sikh activities. All applicants must be attending, or should be admitted to an accredited course of study. All applications must be received through the application form available here. The deadline for new applicants is June 1, 2014 and June 28, 2014 for re-applicants. Results will be announced in September.
The 5Rivers Scholarship Program provides financial support to Sikh students who are motivated to pursue higher education opportunities but lack financial resources. The scholarship provides resources for college bound applicants and for an SAT prep course. The program is offering 10 scholarship spots for the upcoming summer semester. Please visit the 5 Rivers Foundation for more information.