SMART Encourages Sikh Americans to Exercise their Rights Washington, DC – The management team of a set of nightclubs in Pittsburgh, PA which recently denied admission to a turbaned Sikh man based of their “no hats” dress code has amended its policy to allow turbans and other religious head-coverings. The clubs’ management informed the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national civil rights organization, of the change earlier this week, which was circulated as a memorandum to all club managers and door attendants. The policy now states, “Anyone wearing head-wear such as a turban for religious purposes will be permitted entrance into the clubs.” After learning that a Sikh gentleman wearing a turban was denied entry to a club last month, SMART’s legal team contacted management at the club and offered to collaborate with them to revise their dress code. Contrary to some accounts, the Sikh patron who was accompanied by his wife to the establishment, was not attending a “strip” or “gentleman’s” club, but rather, the establishment was located in an area of Pittsburgh referred to as the “strip district.” SMART would like to thank attorney Ravinder Singh Bhalla of the law firm of Krovatin and Associates, which provided pro bono assistance to the Sikh gentleman by writing a letter on his behalf to the nightclub. Additionally, we thank the Anti-Defamation League of Cleveland, Ohio for also writing to the nightclub asking for a clarification of their “no-hats” policy. Following this successful resolution, SMART encourages Sikh Americans to contact us when they suspect a violation. To help the community better respond to such incidents, SMART has developed a KNOW WHAT TO DO pocket guide detailing steps that should be taken in the event of a discrimination, police profiling, and airport security issues.
