SALDEF Policy Expert: Upholding Community Values in a Shifting Political Climate
What are SALDEF’s priorities for the upcoming legislative session, and how will these priorities benefit the Sikh community?
In terms of Washington, D.C., we are focusing on issue areas where there might still be a bipartisan consensus. For instance, legislation or resolutions standing opposed to transnational repression tend to draw in bipartisan sponsors and votes because that is an attack on citizens’ constitutional rights. We also anticipate continuing traction in the areas of mis- and dis-info and censorship, again because it is a bipartisan push to protect all Americans’ rights to access verified and accurate information about the world in which they live.
Sikh Americans are among many communities targeted offline and online in TNR efforts, and they deserve advocacy on those fronts no matter who is in office. More broadly, it is important to remain constant in values-driven community-based advocacy. Issues that matter greatly to our community, like immigration, are the subject of intense political activity and SALDEF prioritizes the continued presence of Sikh Americans advocating for Sikh Americans in these conversations alongside our allies in Congress, the dedicated civil servants with whom we continue to work, and in coalition with our fellow federal advocates in AANHPI civil society.
How does SALDEF collaborate with other organizations and coalitions to advance its policy agenda, and what are some recent examples of successful partnerships?
Research-driven narrative disruption is best achieved in partnership. Our Virtually Vulnerable landscape reportis a microcosm of our method: we worked with partner advocates from other ethno-religious groups in the Indian-American diaspora to share our experiences with the same basic set of tactics employed by the same repressive state on social media. In so doing, we began to operate in a narrative frame not of our individual groups (Sikh, Indian Muslim, progressive Hindu) set against a monolith but as a values-based coalition.
The feedback loop between our establishing technical expertise on policy issues via research and demonstrating that expertise in our advocacy is an open door: on every issue, we work in coalition with the right partners to amplify impact. We also use our presence in coalitions and working groups to build new coalitions with new partners, always keeping one step ahead of the narrative frames used by those who oppose progress on our priorities.
How can Sikh Americans get more involved in the policy-making process and advocate for their own interests?
You are your legislators’ boss.Even if you didn’t vote for them, the job they hold is done in the name of representing you, your interests, and your priorities in the corridors of power whether they are in Washington, D.C., the capital of your state, or even your county board. They operate offices in their districts intended to serve your constituents, and you should know who they are and where those offices are.
Community groups should invite these legislators to visit the gurdwara, and (especially at the local level) show up to meetings open to the public. Public policy to create services that you need is the core of how our government is intended to work, and so every word of every draft bill is uploaded on the internet for free. Safeguarding democracy is a responsibility we all share as citizens, but there is no reason to accept the notion that we can only engage in governing at the ballot box.
What inspired you to work in policy and advocacy, and what advice would you give to young Sikhs who are interested in pursuing similar careers?
I say this with a smile – we don’t all need to be doctors. The advice I would give is actually a bit broader than policy – I would advise all young Sikhs, and young people, to trust their gut and heart more than they trust people who say they know best. I am an advocate because this is the place my path led once I decided to trust myself about what I wanted. In my case, I knew what I wanted was work that was dynamic, challenging, and deeply rewarding – but I had to learn more deeply than that about my purpose.
For me, that purpose is doing my small part to defend and advance the great American experiment: the decision taken in 1776 to establish the world’s first government of the people, by the people, for the people. Any young Sikh who can look inside themselves, really listen to what moves them, and then pursue that purpose faithfully (in balance with the values our parents teach) will find the right path.
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