October 16, 2009 (Washington, DC) – Today, the civil rights concerns of the Sikh American community were featured on RT–an international English-language news channel broadcast to more than 200 million viewers in 100 countries on five continents throughout the world. Earlier this week, SALDEF was present at the White House when President Obama signed an Executive Order restoring the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, an interagency task force charged with addressing social and economic concerns of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. In his remarks, President Obama acknowledged the problem of post-9/11 hate crimes and noted that they are “driven by ignorance and prejudice that are an affront to everything that this nation stands for.” After the ceremony, SALDEF submitted a memorandum to White House aides. Addressed to President Obama–and co-written by SALDEF and the Sikh Coalition–the memorandum urges President Obama to secure the right of Sikh Americans to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces and safeguard the right of Sikh Americans to wear religious headcoverings in driver’s license photographs under the PASS ID Act of 2009. In a videotaped Diwali message that coincided with the signing, President Obama noted that Sikhs mark the occasion as Bandi Chhor Diwas in remembrance of Guru Har Gobind, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs. SALDEF appreciates the President’s gesture and hopes that he will personally work on strengthening the civil rights of Sikh Americans in the United States.
SALDEF Expands Sikh Visibility; Meets President Obama
September 15, 2009 (Washington, DC) – During the last week, Sikh Americans have paused to remember the tragedy of 9/11 and its aftermath. Despite the progress we have made in the cause of educating our fellow Americans about the Sikh religion, Sikhs in the United States continue to face workplace discrimination, school bullying, and the specter of violence born out of ignorance and bigotry. In this context, one question we might ask ourselves is whether the laws of our country allow the Sikh identity to flourish or cause it to wither. (more…)
A Sikh graduate student says Thirsty Turtle denied him service two weeks ago because of the turban that he”s religiously obligated to wear.
Ramik Chopra, 26, a master”s of business administration student who lives in College Park, wears his turban to work, formal occasions and around the house, but when he showed up at Thirsty Turtle on July 31, he said he was told he couldn”t wear it inside the bar.
Chopra said a bouncer appeared to confuse the black turban he was wearing that night with a do-rag and told him the turban violated the bar”s dress code.
Chopra said even after he tried to clear up the misunderstanding, the bouncer wouldn”t relent: He wouldn”t take Chopra”s ID, and he wouldn”t let Chopra speak with a manager.
“It was really degrading,” Chopra said. “I can understand if a person does not know something and he reacts a certain way; I”ve done that, too. But I”m open to listening and trying to understand other people and changing my opinion. This guy refused to budge.”
Kevin Hornberger, a university graduate who was with Chopra that night, confirmed his account.
“I was just sitting there in disbelief,” Hornberger said. “It”s the 21st century.”
Alan Wanuck, owner of Thirsty Turtle, did not return multiple phone calls.
Title II of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prevents public establishments such as Thirsty Turtle from discriminating on the grounds of “race, color, religion or national origin.”
In a case similar to Chopra”s, the U.S. Justice Department concluded in September 2001 that a Hard Times Cafe in Springfield, Va., could not apply a no-do-rag rule to a turban-wearing Sikh man.
“I can”t comment on a case when I don”t know all the facts, but in general the law says you can”t do that,” said Rajdeep Singh Jolly, legal and policy director for the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
But Chopra said it never occurred to him to bring charges against Thirsty Turtle.
He and Hornberger left Thirsty Turtle, ate dinner at Ratsie”s and spent the rest of the night at R.J. Bentley”s. He said Bentley”s bouncer didn”t ask him any questions.
“We were upset for the first hour, and we just had a few drinks, and I was fine,” Chopra said.
slivnick@umdbk.com
Diamonback Online
July 22, 2009 (Washington, DC) – The State of Oregon recently enacted a law called the Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act (WRFA). Although this should have generated fanfare among religious minorities, for whom there is insufficient protection under federal employment discrimination laws, Oregon”s WRFA has, in fact, generated enormous protest among Sikh Americans and a diverse coalition of religious groups and civil libertarians throughout the nation.
What is the problem?
The problem is that Oregon”s WRFA does not apply to public school teachers who wear religious clothing in private adherence to faith. Although Oregon”s WRFA undoubtedly expands workplace religious freedom for most Oregonians, the public school exemption was designed to preserve an archaic law—enacted with the support of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s—which forbids public school teachers from wearing any form of religious clothing. In effect, observant Sikhs, Muslims, Jews—and others who wear religious clothing in private adherence to faith—are shut out of the teaching profession in Oregon. With the possible exception of Pennsylvania, no other state in the country restricts public school teachers in this manner.
When did the Ku Klux Klan come into the picture?
Oregon’s teacher garb law was enacted nearly a century ago by sympathizers of the Ku Klux Klan for the purpose of suppressing Catholics. According to The Oregon Bluebook, an official publication of the State of Oregon about its own history:
| “The Ku Klux Klan enjoyed a warm reception from many Oregon communities in the 1920s as Catholics and minorities suffered both blatant and subtle bigotry. The Klan, FOPS, and Scottish Rite Masons sponsored a bill, passed in 1922 in the general election, to compel all children to attend public schools. The overtly anti-Catholic measure threatened to close all parochial schools and military academies … The legislature also passed a law forbidding wearing of sectarian clothing, namely priestly vestments or nuns” habits, in classrooms.” |
What is SALDEF’s position on this issue?
The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) rejects Oregon’s antiquated and immoral teacher garb law and demands an immediate repeal.
What can I do to help?
LEARN ABOUT THE ISSUE
Sikhs protest school exemption in Oregon religious freedom bill (The Oregonian)
Law denying teachers religious freedom is repugnant and should be repealed (Mail Tribune Editorial)
Oregon law is too strict on teachers” religious garb (The Oregonian Editorial)
Does religious clothing have a place in the classroom (KATU TV – Portland)
(Dave Ross Show – KIRO 97.3 FM)
Oregon’s Fashion Police (Washington Post)
SPREAD THE WORD
Most people do not know that the Oregon teacher garb statute was enacted in the 1920s by the Ku Klux Klan for the purpose of suppressing Catholics. Please distribute this advisory to your friends and family and also to your local Gurdwara and visit the SALDEF website for updates. Because this issue affects all Americans, please reach out to your friends in the interfaith community and spread the word about what is happening in Oregon.
TAKE ACTION
If you live in Oregon, please contact your state representative and ask them whether they can commit to moving beyond the 1920s and repealing Oregon”s teacher garb statute during the next legislative session. The Oregon garb statute is a sad and repugnant legacy of the Ku Klux Klan and deserves to be given a final burial by all Americans.
Please distribute this to family, friends, and at your local Gurdwara
- SALDEF Speaks on Seattle Talk Radio Program
- SALDEF Summer Interns Lead Civil Rights Presentation
- SALDEF Delivers Presentation to Chaplaincy Institute
- Law Enforcement Training at Catholic University
- SALDEF Participates in Homeland Security Roundtable in Southern California
- SALDEF Meets White House Office of Public Engagement
- Maryland Attorney General Amends ‘Headgear’ Opinion
- New SALDEF Website – Photos of Proud Sikhs Needed
SALDEF Speaks on Seattle Talk Radio Program On July 20, 2009, SALDEF Director of Law and Policy, Rajdeep Singh Jolly, appeared on the Dave Ross Show (97.3 KIRO FM) to speak about Oregon’s controversial ban on religious clothing for public school teachers. To listen to the interview, click here. As noted during the discussion, Oregon’s religious clothing ban for public school teachers was enacted during the 1920s by the Ku Klux Klan for the purpose of suppressing Catholics. To learn more about the issue and SALDEF’s effort to overturn the ban, please click here. SALDEF Summer Interns Lead Civil Rights Presentation On June 30, 2009, SALDEF Summer 2009 Interns Dilpreet Kaur Sidhu and Harkiran Kaur Sindhu delivered a presentation entitled Sikh Americans: A Case Study in Civil Rights to a group of more than 20 summer interns from numerous civil rights and public policy organizations in Washington, DC. Participants discussed contemporary civil rights challenges faced by Sikh Americans, including workplace discrimination, hate crimes, and school bullying. A full summary of this event and the entire SALDEF Summer 2009 Internship Program is forthcoming and will be the subject of a separate advisory, so please stay tuned! SALDEF Delivers Presentation to Chaplaincy Institute
On June 28, 2009, SALDEF Managing Director Kavneet Singh delivered a presentation to twenty ministers and chaplains from the Chaplaincy Institute on the Sikh religion at the El Sobrante Gurdwara in California’s Bay Area. The presentation covered the core Sikh beliefs and traditions, discussion on the manners in which Sikhs pray and conduct religious services, and also addressed the history of Sikhs in the United States, including various post-9/11 civil rights challenges facing the Sikh American community.
Prior to the presentation, attendees watched the SALDEF produced DVD On Common Ground as a primer. Students also received copies of SALDEF’s 2009 Pocket Calendars and Who are the Sikhs educational brochures and took a tour of the Gurdwara, partaking in Guru-ka-Langar and sitting with the congregation.
Law Enforcement Training at Catholic University On June 17, 2009, SALDEF Director of Law and Policy, Rajdeep Singh Jolly, spoke to a group of 28 campus police officers at Catholic University in Washington, DC. The subject of the discussion was hate crimes, and participants discussed the role of stereotypes in hate crimes against Sikh Americans as well as South Asians, Arabs, Muslims, and people perceived to be Middle Eastern. Other presenters at the event included the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Anti-Defamation League. SALDEF Participates in Homeland Security Roundtable in Southern California On June 23rd, SALDEF Volunteer Attorney Bhupinder Kaur Malik participated in the quarterly Department of Homeland Security roundtable meeting in Los Angeles. The meeting focused on two areas: the upcoming 2010 Census and unfair employment practices. Rashad Z. Al-Dabbagh and Nadia Babyi from the U.S. Census Bureau explained the importance of the U.S. Census Statistics and how the statistics are used to allocate $300 Billion dollars to minorities all over the United States. They encouraged all minority groups to participate and informed the group that legal status of minorities is not asked or considered in the statistical process. Minority representatives voiced concern over the possibility of the Census information being used against minorities regarding their legal status in the U.S. The representatives informed the group that it is a felony for anyone, even government, to use the Census information against an individual for such things as deportation or locating an individual. One exception to the rule is when there is a need to locate individuals during a natural disaster. The 2010 Census forms will be handed out in March 2010 and will need to be returned by April 2010. Linda White Andrews is the Senior Trial Attorney, Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice. She addressed unfair employment practices and the difference between her department and the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). Her office focuses on citizenship status discrimination and national origin discrimination. An employer cannot require a worker to be a U.S. citizen unless it is required by law, regulation or government contract. For example: a 7-11 store cannot require the employer to be a U.S. citizen as long as the individual has the right to work in the United States. National Origin discrimination is discrimination linked to a person’s place of birth, country of origin, ancestry, native language, accent, perceptions, etc. SALDEF Meets White House Office of Public Engagement On June 18, 2009, SALDEF met with Mr. Paul Monteiro, Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, to create awareness about three major issues facing the Sikh American community: (1) the denial of the right of observant Sikh Americans to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces; (2) the denial of the right of observant Sikh Americans to work as public school teachers in Oregon and Pennsylvania; and (3) severe weaknesses in federal workplace discrimination laws that make it easy for employers to discriminate against observant Sikh Americans. SALDEF will continue to build bridges with the White House and other government officials in the cause of developing solutions for American civil rights issues. Maryland Attorney General Amends ‘Headgear’ Opinion According to a letter dated July 23, 2009, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office has amended a legal opinion at the request of SALDEF but has stopped short of clarifying screening policies for religious headcoverings at state courthouses. The opinion in question—94 OAG 81—was originally issued on May 27, 2009 in response to an inquiry about the right of individuals to remain “veiled or masked” for religious reasons upon entering a courthouse. Despite the narrow focus of the inquiry on religious face coverings, the Attorney General’s opinion made conspicuous reference to religious headgear and headcoverings and could have been misinterpreted to mean that observant Sikhs would have to remove their dastaars (Sikh turbans) for security screening purposes before entering a courthouse in Maryland. In light of these developments, SALDEF and volunteer attorney Dawinder Singh Sidhu issued a letter of concern on June 9, 2009 and demanded that the Maryland Attorney General issue a revised opinion to clarify that religious headcoverings may be worn without interruption by individuals entering a courthouse in Maryland. Although a new opinion has been issued, it still contains ambiguities and still does not clarify, in positive terms, that religious headcoverings may be worn without interruption by individuals entering a courthouse in Maryland. SALDEF will continue to engage with the State of Maryland and monitor its performance to ensure that the civil rights of Sikh Americans are safeguarded. In the meantime, SALDEF urges the Sikh American community of Maryland to remain vigilant and report positive and negative courthouse screening experiences to SALDEF. New SALDEF Website – Photos of Proud Sikhs Needed SALDEF is developing a new website and invites volunteers to submit high-quality, digital photographs of proud Sikh Americans for incorporation into the new website. We are particularly interested in images that reinforce the fact that observant Sikhs are an integral and inseparable part of American society. Please forward your images to info@saldef.org, along with your name and location.
July 14, 2009 (Washington, DC) – Today, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) — the oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States — urged Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski to veto a bill that rubber-stamps a state law that forbids public school teachers from wearing any form of religious clothing. The Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act (SB 786), which was passed by the Oregon legislature last May, contemplates greater religious freedom for employees but ironically exempts public schools from its coverage. This is significant because Oregon law forbids individuals from wearing “any religious dress while engaged in the performance of duties as a teacher.” As a result, even if SB 786 is signed into law, observant Sikh Americans would still be barred from working as teachers in the public schools of Oregon because of their religiously-mandated dastaars (turbans), and observant Jews and Muslims would also be subjected to the ignominy of having to choose between religious freedom and a teaching career in the State of Oregon. This gaping hole in SB 786 constitutes a major step backward and simply cannot be reconciled with the spirit behind robust workplace religious freedom legislation. TAKE ACTION Please contact the Oregon Governor’s Citizens’ Representative Message Line at (503) 378-4582, or write to him directly, and tell him to veto SB 786. Please ask him to ensure that the Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act protects all citizens in the State of Oregon, including public school teachers.
1. SALDEF Honors Leaders at Civil Rights Awards Gala 2. SALDEF Speaks at Columbia Union College 3. SALDEF Delivers Training Lecture at Johns Hopkins University 4. SALDEF Speaks at South Asian Summit in Washington, DC 5. California High School Invites SALDEF to Give Presentation 6. Maryland Church Invites SALDEF to Interfaith Dialogue
The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) and more than 400 members of the Sikh American community of Southern California joined together on May 2, 2009 to honor civic and community leaders for their contributions to the causes of civil rights and community empowerment. Distinguished Sikh American author Dr. I.J. Singh provided the keynote address. Highlights of the evening included artistic performances by local Sikh youth; a thoughtful presentation by local attorney and philanthropist Mr. Navneet Singh Chugh; an art auction organized by community leader Mr. Bicky Singh; and a stand-up comedy performance by Mr. Bali Bhan. A dedicated team of volunteers coordinated the organization of the event. Click here to read more details about the event. SALDEF Speaks at Columbia Union College 
On May 15, 2009, SALDEF’s Chairman and Co-Founder Manjit Singh spoke to a group of more than 20 public safety professionals at Johns Hopkins University about Sikh religious and cultural practices in the context of law enforcement. After viewing the presentation, at least one student (a master’s degree candidate) decided to write a full-length research paper examining the issue of religious accommodations for firefighters. SALDEF is grateful to Prof. Teresa Chambers at Johns Hopkins University for inviting SALDEF to deliver a presentation. If you would like to learn more about SALDEF’s Law Enforcement Partnership Program (LEPP), through which more than 100,000 state and federal law enforcement officials have been trained on Sikh American religious and cultural awareness, please contact us at info@saldef.org.
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On April 25, 2009, SALDEF participated in a panel discussion at the 2009 South Asian Summit organized by South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), a national consortium of South Asian advocacy groups, in Washington, DC. The topic of the discussion was post-9/11 challenges facing the Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian American communities, particularly racial and ethnic profiling. Participants included representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Council of Peoples Organization, and the Bill of Rights Defense Committee.
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In March 2009, SALDEF’s Western Regional Director, Kavneet Singh, conducted two one-hour workshops for students at Castro Valley High School in Castro Valley , CA .
The first workshop introduced students to Sikh culture and the history of Sikhs in the United States and was followed by a question and answer session.
The second workshop discussed specific civil rights issues faced by Sikh Americans. Students also watched a demonstration of how a dastaar(Sikh turban) is tied and received copies ofSALDEF’s 2009 Pocket Calendars and Who are the Sikhs educational brochures.
If you would like a SALDEF volunteer or staff member to conduct an anti-bullying and cultural awareness presentation for students at your children’s school, please contact SALDEF by email at info@saldef.org.
Maryland Church Invites SALDEF to Interfaith Dialogue On April 25, 2009, SALDEF volunteer Sartaj Singh Dhami delivered a presentation about the Sikh religion to a group of church youth at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Potomac, Maryland. The presentation covered Sikh beliefs and traditions in the global context and also addressed the history of Sikhs in the United States, including post-9/11 challenges facing the Sikh American community. Mr. Dhami received excellent feedback about his presentation, as evidenced by the following remarks in a thank-you card that he received from church youth: “Thanks for your insight and inspiration.” – Audrey “Be the best darn Sikh you can be.” – Noah
“Thanks alot for your great talk on Sikhism. You were really cool.” – Johnny SALDEF is grateful to Sartaj Singh Dhami; Scott Romey (Youth Director of Geneva Presbyterian Church); and participating members of the Geneva Presbyterian Church for promoting interfaith dialogue and solidarity.
SALDEF Meets National Intelligence Director In March 2009, SALDEF met with Admiral Dennis Blair, U.S. Director of National Intelligence, as part of SALDEF’s ongoing effort to develop greater partnerships with national security agencies. Since the creation of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence by former President George W. Bush, SALDEF has met with two National Intelligence Directors to discuss the need to recruit Sikh Americans into the U.S. Armed Forces and national security agencies.
Contact your United States Senator Today about the Hate Crimes Bill 
On May 15, 2009, at SALDEF’s request, Rep. Jared Polis of Colorado added the Sikh American perspective to the Congressional Record in connection with the groundbreaking Hate Crimes Bill. Rep. Polis specifically addressed “the very real evil of hate crimes against Sikh Americans” and lamented the fact that “a particular group of loyal, patriotic Americans is targeted for attack and ridicule because of the peaceful observance of their faith.” He concluded his statement with a call to action: “We must not ignore the problem. We must confront it, call it what it is, and work to make sure these kinds of attacks never happen again.”
On May 15, 2009, at SALDEF’s request, Rep. Jared Polis of Colorado added the Sikh American perspective to the Congressional Record in connection with the groundbreaking Hate Crimes Bill. Rep. Polis specifically addressed “the very real evil of hate crimes against Sikh Americans” and lamented the fact that “a particular group of loyal, patriotic Americans is targeted for attack and ridicule because of the peaceful observance of their faith.” He concluded his statement with a call to action: “We must not ignore the problem. We must confront it, call it what it is, and work to make sure these kinds of attacks never happen again.” Click Here to Read the Full Statement by Rep. Jared Polis SALDEF is grateful to Rep. Polis for his leadership and urges you to heed his call by supporting the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909), a legislative measure that aims to increase the power of the federal government to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. A similar version of the bill (H.R. 1913) passed the U.S. House of Representatives in late April by a 249-175 vote. Now it is time for the U.S. Senate to consider this historic proposal. Click Here to Call or Email Your Senator 1. Tell your Senator to support the Hate Crimes Bill 2. Tell your Senator that Sikh Americans are still subjected to hate crimes 3. Tell your Senator to speak out on behalf of Sikh Americans in the Senate
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SALDEF and several other Sikh organizations have partnered with the Jakara Movement to distribute copies of the educational publication 1984 Sikhs’ Kristallnacht: 25 Years On at no cost to Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike.
This concise but comprehensive account of various anti-Sikh massacres that took place throughout India in 1984 and beyond invokes the name of the Kristallnacht(“Night of Broken Glass”), the anti-Jewish pogroms which swept through Germany in November 1938. Please contact SALDEF at info@saldef.org if you would like more information about obtaining free copies of this important publication.
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May 21, 2009 (Washington, DC) – The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) urges the Sikh American community to thank Rep. Jared Polis of Colorado for his leadership in adding the Sikh American perspective to the Congressional Record in connection with the groundbreaking Hate Crimes Bill. At SALDEF’s request, Rep. Polis specifically addressed “the very real evil of hate crimes against Sikh Americans” and lamented the fact that “a particular group of loyal, patriotic Americans is targeted for attack and ridicule because of the peaceful observance of their faith.” He concluded his statement with a call to action: “We must not ignore the problem. We must confront it, call it what it is, and work to make sure these kinds of attacks never happen again.” Click Here to Read the Full Statement by Rep. Jared Polis SALDEF urges you to heed the call of Rep. Jared Polis by supporting the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909), a legislative measure that aims to increase the power of the federal government to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. A similar version of the bill (H.R. 1913) passed the U.S. House of Representatives late last month by a 249-175 vote. Now it is time for the U.S. Senate to consider this historic proposal. Click Here to Contact Your Senator 1. Tell your Senator to support the Hate Crimes Bill 2. Tell your Senator that Sikh Americans are still subjected to hate crimes 3. Tell your Senator to speak out on behalf of Sikh Americans on the Senate Floor If you have ever been the victim of a hate crime because of your Sikh identity, please consider sharing your story with your Senator to emphasize just how serious the problem really is. If you ever suffer discrimination or violence because of your Sikh identity, please contact SALDEF via email or by telephone at (202) 393-2700.
Gala Sponsors Thank you for your generous support to SALDEF Diamond Sponsors Dr. Gurbux Singh and Mrs. Amitesh Alag Future Computing Solutions, Inc. Gold Sponsors FBI Drs. Gagan & Bhupinder Bains Drs. Rommel & Hardeep Dhadha Malik Family P2S Engineeing R Systems Ratanjit Singh Sondhe Silver Sponsors ODNI Dr Arinder Singh and Mrs. Manpreet Chadha Baldev Singh Sethi and Family BhagatSinghThind.com Energy Conversion Applications, Inc. Guru Nanck Sikh Temple (Buena Park, CA) Hamilton Brewart Dr. Harmohinder Gogia Dr. Piara Singh Riverside Gurdwara Sawhney Family Sir Speedy Printers, Tustin, CA U2W, Inc. SALDEF would also like to thank and recognize the dedication and leadership of the 2009 Southern California Gala Organizing Committee
On May 2, 2009, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) and more than 400 members of the Sikh American community of Southern California and from across the country, joined together to honor civic and community leaders for their contributions to the causes of civil rights and community empowerment. The Dalip Singh Saund Legislative Leadership Award was given to Dr. Judy Chu, Vice Chair of the California State Board of Equalization and former member of the California State Assembly, for her demonstrated commitment to creating greater public awareness about the problem of hate crimes against Sikh Americans. Dr. Chu reiterated her commitment to promoting mutual respect and understanding among all Americans. The Dorothy Height Coalition Building Award was accepted in absentia at a ceremony in Washington , DC by Mr. James Standish and Mr. Richard Foltin, of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and the American Jewish Committee, respectively, in recognition of their leadership in promoting religious freedom in the workplace for all Americans. The SALDEF Youth Leadership Award was presented to Mr. Gurumustuk Singh for pioneering the use of the internet to create global awareness about the Sikh religion and developing Sikhnet into the preeminent website for the Sikh community worldwide. Because November 2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the anti-Sikh pogroms that swept through New Delhi and other parts of India in November 1984, the Bhagat Singh Thind Community Empowerment Award was given to the Nishkam Sikh Welfare Council in recognition of their ongoing efforts to rehabilitate individuals who were widowed and orphaned because of the carnage. SALDEF recognized Mr. Persichini for spearheading proactive community outreach to the Sikh, Arab, and Muslim American communities to address post-9/11 concerns about hate crimes and bias. Mr. Persichini acknowledged the work of SALDEF in the context of law enforcement partnerships and expressed optimism about ongoing efforts to build bridges between law enforcement agencies and post-9/11 communities. Other highlights of the evening included colorful artistic performances by local Sikh youth; an art auction organized by local community leader Mr. Bicky Singh; and a stand-up comedy performance by internationally renowned Sikh comedian Mr. Bali Bhan. SALDEF would like to thank the event sponsors for their generous support, as well as the Southern California Organizing Team, who put in countless hours in ensuring the success of this event. For additional information about the 2009 SALDEF Civil Rights Awards Gala, please contact Kavneet Singh, SALDEF’s Managing Director, at kavneet@saldef.org.