Act to Change Commemorates Fifth Annual National Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Day Against Bullying and Hate

On May 18, 2023, anti-bullying nonprofit Act To Change rallied the nation in commemorating the fifth Annual National Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Day Against Bullying and Hate. SALDEF is committed to ending bullying and hate in the AAPI community and is proud to join over 100 organizations and over 40 cities, states and jurisdictions in this movement.

Act To Change’s commemoration on May 18 was part of Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and marks the birthday of Vincent Chin. In 1982, Chin was falsely blamed for the layoffs in the auto industry, and brutally murdered in a racial hate crime. He lost his life simply because he was Asian. Chin’s death launched the modern Asian American movement, and we’re proud to join Act To Change in continuing this movement.

America has a longstanding history of anti-AAPI racism and violence especially with post 9/11 stereotyping, COVID-19 fueled hate crimes, the use of the “model minority” myth, and the 2023 exclusionary land purchase laws. AAPIs are continually portrayed as the “perpetual foreigner” and AAPI youth grow up feeling the need to prove their Americanness. Sikh turbans are often misconstrued by others to be symbols of hate. Educating the American public about who we are, and standing up against bullying and hate will make sure that AAPI communities’ voices are heard.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a staggering rise in verbal and physical violence against people of AAPI descent, with nearly 12,000 incidents reported to Stop AAPI Hate. The most vulnerable communities, including youth and elders, bore the brunt of this violence, and AAPI youth continue to become targets of ridicule, social isolation and physical violence in schools. Cyberbullying is another worrying issue, contributing to low self-esteem, social anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. SALDEF strongly condemns any acts of bullying or harassment and has created a guide for Sikh parents on how to address school bullying with their children.

All communities of color, including AAPIs, are disproportionately impacted by gun violence. The mass shootings this year in Allen, Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, along with near-daily school shootings force our communities to live in fear. The Sikh American community has dealt with tragedies such as Oak Creek, and the Fed Ex mass shooting in Indianapolis which has left devastating and lasting impressions on all of us.

The National AAPI Day Against Bullying and Hate is a celebration of AAPI youth. AAPI youth continue to organize within their schools communities, and fight bullying with awareness, art, creativity and compassion for each other. Act To Change’s Youth Ambassadors and Homeroom Anti-Bullying Workshop participants lead exceptional programming and workshops among their peers. AAPI youth grow up to become exceptional leaders, and inspire the nation.

The AAPI community continues to face an epidemic of hate and violence. We stand in solidarity with the AAPI community, and publicly denounce all forms of bullying and hate. We stand in solidarity with Act To Change and numerous community partners to encourage the public to foster dialogue, share resources, and end bullying and hate.

Community Encouraged to Contact Senators to Support Bullying Prevention Bill

Jasjit obama Last week, on March 10, 2011, Jasjit Singh, Associate Executive Director of SALDEF, was invited as a representative of the Sikh American community to the White House Conference on Bullying Prevention. The conference, hosted by President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, the Department of Education, and the Department of Health and Human Services, brought together representatives from communities directly affected by bullying to bring attention to the issue and explore resources for those affected by bullying and harassment. This commendable initiative undertaken by the White House and community groups seeks to prevent bullying and provide safe school environments for all students.

TAKE ACTION:

1. Learn about the issue 2. Write to your Senator asking for their support 3. Follow-up with a phone call

The Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA), a federal anti-bullying bill, was introduced in the U.S. Senate on March 8, 2011. The SSIA calls on schools and districts that receive federal funds to adopt anti-bullying policies that specifically prohibit bullying or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The bill ensures schools focus on effective prevention strategies and professional development and requires states to maintain and report data to the Department of Education in order to develop effective policies. The bill is expected to be introduced in the House soon. Sikh Americans are urged to support SSIA for its potential impact on our children by asking your respective Senators to endorse the bill. SALDEF will continue to work with coalition partners to push this bill forward and keep the community updated on its progress. For Sikh Americans, school bullying is a serious and prevalent issue. Students forced to endure bullying and harassment at school are at high risk for , poor academic performance, low self-esteem, social withdrawal, and losing their Sikh identity. Bullying is not a normal part of childhood. SALDEF urges all Sikh Americans to immediately report any incidents of harassment or bullying to SALDEF and your local authorities. Please contact SALDEF at 1.877.91SIKHS or via our Report an Incident Form.

  • SALDEF Encourages All Sikh Americans to VOTE
  • ADL Concert to Honor Balbir Singh Sodhi
  • Know Your Rights Forum in LA
  • Government Launches Anti-Bullying Website
  • SALDEF Participates in Southern California Youth Mentorship Program
  • One Year Anniversary of Hate Crime Prevention Act
  • SALDEF Signs on to Several Amicus Briefs to Support Civil and Religious Liberties
  • US Immigration Services Redesigns Naturalization Certificates
  • Upcoming Events

SALDEF Encourages All Sikh Americans to VOTE The November 2nd General Elections are today, with many intiatives and candidates that need your voice and input. The elections process is a celebrated institution at the root of our democracy. SALDEF urges all Sikh American citizens to take this opportunity to ensure that every Sikh American fulfills this vital civic duty and VOTE! Visit www.866OurVote.org to find your voting place, understand the type of identification you might be asked to provide, and report voting problems. The Election Protection Hotline, 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-888-687-8683). To find out more information about voting visit: http://www.apiavote.org/ ADL Concert to Honor Balbir Singh Sodhi The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), one of the nation’s premier civil rights organizations and a key SALDEF partner, is hosting their annual ADL In Concert Against Hate at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on November 15, 2010 at 8:30pm. This year, the ADL will honor Balbir Singh Sodhi, the first hate-crime murder in the wave of post-9/11 backlash, Mr. Sodhi was tragically murdered outside of his gas station in Mesa, Arizona by a man who wanted to kill a Muslim in retaliation for September 11. He selected Mr. Sodhi simply because he had a beard and wore a turban. The concert will be performed by the National Symphony with awards narrated by members from the cast of Glee. We encourage Sikhs to attend this event and participate in honoring the memory of Mr. Sodhi. If you would like to attend, please send us an email with the guests in your party by Wednesday, November 3rd. Know Your Rights Forum in Southern California As a part of SALDEF’s ongoing effort to empower the community to understand their civil rights and strengthen partnerships with key government agencies, SALDEF will be  holding a Know Your Rights (KYR) forum for the Sikh American community of Los Angeles on Sunday, November 14, from 2 – 4 pm. Representatives from the FBI, DOJ and EEOC will be in attendance, as well as recruiters from these agencies to talk about job opportunities. For additional information about this event, or if you would like to organize a similar event in your community, please contact us. Government Launches Anti-Bullying Website The Department of Education has issued guidance to support educators in combating bullying in schools by clarifying when student bullying may violate federal education anti-discrimination laws. We encourage you to access the following new website by the Department of Education – Bullying Info – which is a “one stop shop” for all federal resources on bullying. The site will be updated from time to time with new and additional resources for educators, students, parents and community members who are working to end bullying. SALDEF Participates in Southern California Youth Mentorship Program SALDEF recently participated in a prominent community outreach program called Stopping Hate And Delinquency by Empowering Students (SHADES) in Los Angeles, CA.  The program provides youth juror training for a specialized Teen Court that focuses on crimes rooted in prejudice and bias on inner-city campuses in Los Angeles.  The goal of the program is to train the youth participants to serve as informed and effective jurors in these school-based cases.  Bhupinder Kaur, SALDEF Western Regional Director, conducted a workshop on hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents, explaining the affect that hate motivated actions have had upon the Sikh American community.  The students engaged in a discussion about hate motivated violence and crimes.  Such outreach efforts educate the community not only about the challenges that Sikh Americans face, but more importantly about the values of our faith. Marking the One Year Anniversary of the Hate Crime Prevention Act On October 28, 2009, The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed into law by President Obama. Named after two victims of bias-motivated crimes, the law expanded the existing federal hate crime law giving the Department of Justice the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence based on the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. SALDEF was a member of the coalition that worked to garner support for this important piece of legislation. If you feel you are the victim of a bias-motivated incident, please contact SALDEF. SALDEF Signs on to Several Amicus Briefs to Support Civil and Religious Liberties SALDEF joined in submitting an amicus brief to the Ninth Circuit in Ibrahim v. Department of Homeland Security, which challenges the government’s policies,  procedures, and implementation of the No-Fly List, which has increasingly been used as a tool of manipulation and control. A positive outcome in this case will help curb this abusive practice. In another case, alongside the ACLU and other parties, SALDEF submitted an amicus brief to the Seventh Circuit in Does v. Elmbrook School District, a case challenging public-school graduations held in a church near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The brief argues that the policy of holding graduations in a church sanctuary is unconstitutional because it is coercive, sends a message of religious endorsement, and creates religious divisiveness. By serving as a amicus curiae, or “friend of the court,” SALDEF hopes to influence the outcome of these important cases. U.S. Immigration Services Redesigns Naturalization Certificate U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the launch of a redesigned Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550) with new security features. The new certificate features the naturalization candidate’s digitized photo and signature embedded into the document. The background also features a color-shifting ink pattern that is difficult to reproduce. All previously issued Certificates of Naturalization will remain valid. Upcoming Events