Community Relations Service adds On Common Ground to Website Washington D.C; February 5, 2008 – Yesterday, The U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service (CRS) made the SALDEF-DOJ Sikh Cultural Awareness Training Video available via high stream video on the web. The video, titled On Common Ground: Sikh American Cultural Competency Training for Law Enforcement was designed to inform law enforcement officials across the United States on Sikh American religious and cultural practices in an effort to better work with the community. Click here to view On Common Ground The Sikh American Law Enforcement training video was released in January 2007 and has since been viewed by over 65,000 law enforcement officials in the United States including all TSA screeners working in the nation’s airports. Additionally, individuals in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, India, and Brazil have requested and received copies of this DVD for use with their local law enforcement agencies. The Acting Director of DOJ-CRS, Ondray T Harris remarked, “On Common Ground serves as a valuable tool in educating law enforcement officials, airport personnel, and various communities across the United States on the cultural and religious practices associated with Sikhism. Awareness of cultural and religious observations can help avoid misunderstanding and tension. Towards this goal, On Common Ground can assist the public in understanding the challenges and realizing the contributions of the Sikh community in the United States. Former CRS Director Sharee Freeman, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), and other local, state, and federal agencies are to be commended for their extraordinary efforts in making On Common Ground possible.” This training video effort follows many ground-breaking achievements of SALDEF’s Educational Outreach Programs, including most notably: In 2004, SALDEF collaborated with the U.S. Department of Justice to publish a poster entitled, Common Sikh American Head Coverings. This purpose of the poster was to provide Local, State and Federal Officials with basic information about the Sikh faith and the significance of the daastar (turban), as well as to provide recommendations when meeting with Sikh Americans. In 2006, SALDEF collaborated with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to publish the poster, entitled, Sikh Americans and the Kirpan. The purpose of the poster was to provide Local, State, and Federal Officials with increased awareness about the Kirpan and will help in the appropriate handling and ensure a positive interaction between Sikh Americans and Federal law enforcement personnel.
