February 20, 2008 1. Vermont Prisons To Change Policy on Religious Freedom 2. SALDEF Internship Program 3. 10-year old Sikh American Discriminated Against 4. ABC Apologizes for Misrepresenting Sikhs as Muslims 5. Two California Sikh Americans arrested for possession of Kirpan 6. Sikh’s Turban Grabbed in New Jersey Restaurant 7. SALDEF Mourns Loss of Human Rights Icon 8. SALDEF Discusses Bullying and School Harassment with Sikh Children at Houston Sikh Camp 9. Prosecutors Decline to File Charges in Death of Simran Singh 10. Upcoming Events Vermont Prisons to Change Policy on Religious Freedom Last year, SALDEF was contacted by Satnam Singh, a Sikh American currently incarcerated within the Vermont Department of Corrections, regarding a potential policy change that would have restricted Mr. Singh’s right to maintain his turban. On January 10, 2008, in response to SALDEF’s inquiry, Robert Hofmann, Commissioner of the Vermont DOC formally accepted changes in policy to respect a prisoner religious rights. Among others, changes included recognizing the Khanda as a religious symbol, allowing prisoners to maintain their turbans in all areas of the institution, and an implementation of a redress process. SALDEF Internship Program 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 effecting the community, political action, and education outreach. Current opportunities available include: Legal, Legislative, Communications and Development Fellows. Click here for more information. 10-year-old Sikh American Discriminated Against In January, a 10-year-old Sikh American was denied his right to wear a t-shirt with the phrase, “Akal Purakh Ki Fauj.” The school banned the phrase, meaning The Truth is God’s Army, by misrepresenting it’s translation to support militancy. SALDEF is working to educate the school on the meaning of the phrase and how denying the student to wear the shirt, which was obtained through a local Sikh camp, violates his Free Speech rights. ABC Apologizes for Misrepresenting Sikhs as Muslims A New Jersey affiliate of ABC News apologized to SALDEF and the Sikh American community for misrepresenting Sikhs as Muslims. In a news report on the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Correspondent Jeff Rossen showed a Sikh American walking in the streets of New York City under the language referring to a Muslim neighborhood and concerns over the affairs in Pakistan. Within 24 hours of receiving SALDEF’s letter Jeff Rossen and ABC apologized to SALDEF and the Sikh American community and promptly removed and edited the video depicting the misrepresentation. Two California Sikhs Arrested for Possession of a Kirpan SALDEF is currently assisting two Sikh American men who were arrested and charged with violating concealed weapon laws for wearing their religiously-mandated article of faith, the kirpan. SALDEF is working closely with attorneys in both Bakersfield and Oakland to ensure the dismissal of these charges and that these Sikhs face no penalty.
