- SALDEF Announces Hiring of New Legal Director
- Homeland Security Institute request’s SALDEF participation with Security and Technology Panel
- Fall 2008 Internship Program: Don’t Miss This Opportunity!
- SALDEF Trains New Police Recruits in Maryland
- SALDEF Conducts Bullying Presentation at New Jersey Sikh Camp
- SALDEF Collaborates with Congressman David Wu on National Solutions to Bullying and Harassment Concerns
- SALDEF Attends FBI Centennial
- SALDEF Briefs OSCE Representative on Racism in the United States
- Legal Updates
- Upcoming Events
SALDEF Announces Hiring of New Legal Director Earlier this summer, SALDEF hired a new Legal Director to oversee SALDEF’s legal, policy, and research activities. Mr. Rajdeep Singh Jolly Esq, a former SALDEF Volunteer Attorney, was Associate Counsel for a small commercial bank in Miami, Florida. During this period, he also served as a volunteer attorney for SALDEF’s office of Legal Affairs and provided pro-bono assistance to a national advocacy group for abused and neglected children. Mr. Jolly is the author of The Application of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to Appearance Regulations that Presumptively Prohibit Observant Sikh Lawyers from Joining the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps, which was published by the Chapman Law Review, and has also represented SALDEF in a range of media outlets. Mr. Jolly graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami, where he received an undergraduate degree in Philosophy, and holds a law degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. He is a member of The Florida Bar. Homeland Security Institute Request’s SALDEF participation with Security and Technology Panel On August 27, 2008 SALDEF representatives were invited to participate in a panel discussion to provide insight into the community perceptions of security technology. The technology being reviewed included fingerprint scans, iris scans, facial recognition software, and many others. ‘We welcome the opportunity to provide feedback on products that will affect the community”, said SALDEF National Director Rajbir Singh Datta. “Where appropriate, all levels of the Federal Government should proactively seek out public opinion on a range of issues that affect the public.” SALDEF Fall 2008 Internship Program: Don’t miss this opportunity The SALDEF Internship Program offers Sikh American youth rare opportunities for political advocacy and leadership development. The program educates students on issues of civil rights, public policy and the legislative process. Students will gain hands-on experience in community organizing, research, writing, legal issues affecting the community, political action, and education outreach. Applications are still being accepted! Current opportunities available include: Legal, Legislative, Communications and Development Fellows. Click here to email. SALDEF Train’s New Recruits in Maryland On July 16, 2008 SALDEF conducted a Sikh American Awareness Training for 40 new police recruits in Howard County Maryland. This training program was a unique time for SALDEF’s education program to affect the Sikh American community Maryland-wide. The purpose of the law enforcement trainings is to provide information on how to appropriately interact with Sikhs and how to deal with Sikh articles of faith and cultural barriers which may exist. SALDEF Conducts Bullying Presentation at New Jersey Sikh Camp SALDEF Eastern Regional Director Savraj Singh presented SALDEF’s bullying awareness presentation to roughly 60 Sikh children at the 3rd Annual Sikh Sabha Gurdwara Youth Camp. The two 45-minute, interactive session engaged campers and encouraged them to remain confident in themselves while reaching out to parents and teachers for help. By understanding past incidents of school harassment, the children learned to recognize bullying, understood its origins, and identified appropriate action to take when bullying occurs. SALDEF Collaborates with Congressman David Wu on National Solutions to Bullying and Harassment Concerns As the only Sikh member of the National Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), a compilation of National organizations, SALDEF met with Congressman David Wu to discuss education priorities that effect the Sikh American community. Of the concerns mentioned by coalition partnered included, limited English proficiency (LEP), parental involvement, and No Child Left Behind (NCLB). SALDEF focused on bullying and harassment of students and it’s effect on the future academic success. SALDEF is a strong supporter of the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2007 (HR. 3132). SALDEF Attends FBI Centennial On July 17, 2008 SALDEF was invited to attend the FBI Centennial event that was held in Washington DC. SALDEF works very closely with the FBI and frequently meets with the leadership including Director Robert Mueller to discuss issues of grave concern to the Sikh American community. SALDEF has able to hear from United States Attorney General Michael Mukasey, FBI Deputy Director John Pistol, as well as three other past FBI Directors. SALDEF Briefs OSCE Representative on Racism in the United States On July 15, 2008 SALDEF met with the Anastasia Crickley, Personal Representative of the Chair in Office of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination. Of the numerous issues affecting Sikhs in the United States, SALDEF discussed the inability of Sikhs to service in the Armed Services, the dramatic increase in employment discrimination, school harassment, and hate crimes. The information the Ms. Crickley has received will be compiled in a document which is expected to be released within the next year. Legal Updates Since January, SALDEF has received 126 requests for legal assistance of which SALDEF has accepted 81 to assist. These cases involve broad issues from immigration and naturalization, DMV concerns, violations involving the right wear a kirpan, public accommodation concern, free exercise within prisons, and many others. We need your support to ensure all members of the Sikh community receive the support they need when our faith is under attack. Support SALDEF’s efforts in protecting and advocating for the Sikh American community.