Youth Assailants in California Learn About Sikh Americans

SALDEF and San Jose Gurdwara partner to rehabilitate youth Washington, DC – October 14, 2008: Over the past several months, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest and largest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, in collaboration with the San Jose Gurdwara, was involved with the administration of a probation period for 4 youth assailants in San Jose. In October 2007, SALDEF was contacted by a Sikh family in San Jose who was concerned with the increase in the number of attacks on their home. For months, the Singh residence was the site of numerous hate-motivated attacks on their property. Their home was spray painted with vulgar language such as “Osama,” “Al Qaida,” and “Nigger.” Their home was toilet-papered on numerous occasions and the family frequently received vulgar and threatening phone calls in the middle of the night. Through their perseverance, the family was able to catch the assailants — 4 Southeast Asian and 1 South Asian teenagers — by identifying the vehicle and license plate number that they saw in front of their house. On more then one occasion the San Jose Police Department (SJPD) commented to the family that the attacks were simply pranks and nothing to worry about. However, it was clear to SALDEF that after the non-action by the police and a rumor that spread about a physical threat being made against the family’s son, that action was needed. SALDEF immediately reached out to the SJPD and District Attorney to ensure that the assailants were prosecuted and offer SALDEF as a resource for law enforcement authorities in dealing with the case. After working with the SJPD, San Jose Gurdwara Management, the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office, and the Santa Clara Probation Department, SALDEF, with the support of the family, was successful in negotiating that all 4 of the boys who were convicted go through an education series about Sikh traditions and beliefs as well as curriculum around hate and intolerance and its effect on the larger community. Additionally, 2 of the 4 convicted students were sentenced to 50 hours of community service at the San Jose Gurdwara. The youths assisted in helping in the Khalsa School office, cleaning the grounds of the Gurdwara, working with local Sikh American high school students on a car wash fundraiser, and helping to collect data on Sikh youths affected by bullying and harassment in school. “The purpose of the community service was to facilitate an opportunity for the youths to interact with the local Sikh American community and to learn more about Sikhs and our faith,” said SALDEF Managing Director Kavneet Singh. “Knowing that the crimes were hate motivated was a disturbing find. Thirteen-year-olds aren’t born with hate; they learn it. Our hope through this community service was to encourage them to unlearn that destructive behavior.” SALDEF is continuing to work with the local school district to ensure the safety of Sikh youth and to facilitate long-term constructive communication between the local Sikh American community and school officials. If you believe that your child is experiencing difficulties in school, contact SALDEF immediately at education@saldef.org so that your concerns can be addressed before the incidents escalate. Please distribute this widely to family, friends and at the local Gurdwara

Washington, DC – October 7, 2008: Last week, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, was alerted to incidents of bullying and harassment at a San Francisco Bay Area junior high school, involving Sikh American students who wear daastars (Sikh turbans) and maintain their long kesh (uncut hair). School officials proactively contacted SALDEF to arrange a presentation for the entire student body, numbering over 300, about the Sikh faith, customs and articles of faith. The presentation, conducted by SALDEF’s Managing Director Kavneet Singh, was extremely well received by both the students and faculty alike. In fact, at the request of SALDEF, the faculty and administration of the school have agreed to organize an internal presentation which will:

  • Familiarize school officials with the religious practices and beliefs of Sikhs;
  • Better position teachers and administrators to identify how Sikhs are targeted by and subjected to harassment and bullying by their fellow classmates; and,
  • Learn strategies to prevent this harassment from happening in their school.

“We commend the school officials for their vigilance in meeting the needs of their Sikh American children, and in making sure that these incidents didn’t escalate into something much bigger,” said SALDEF Managing Director Kavneet Singh. “Knowing how to interact with the community and develop greater partnerships before something happens is the key to ensuring safety and greater appreciation for the diversity of our nation’s communities.” SALDEF has worked with school districts in the past, most notably in 2004 when the Fremont School District in California’s Bay Area, required their entire staff and faculty to view a taped presentation of SALDEF’s Introduction to Sikhism and How to Best Interact with Sikh American School Children. Also earlier this year, SALDEF was requested to make presentations to three Montgomery County Maryland Schools to prevent hate and bias attacks, in the wake of an attack on two elder Sikh American men. SALDEF will continue to work with school officials to help them develop better understanding and appreciation for the Sikh American community. If you believe that your child is experiencing difficulties in school, contact SALDEF immediately at education@saldef.org so that your concerns can be addressed before the incidents escalate.

DALLAS — Dallas County has revised its security screening procedures to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of a Sikh man who was ordered out of a courtroom for refusing to remove his turban, a civil rights group said Wednesday. The new policy revealed by the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Texas calls for security personnel at all county buildings to allow people wearing religious head coverings or other religious garments to walk through a metal detector without removing the item. If the detector beeps, security personnel will use a hand-held detector or conduct a private search. The policy was developed by the county based on models provided by the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. It led to the dismissal last week of a case brought by the ACLU on behalf of Amardeep Singh. According to the suit filed last year, Singh was ordered out of a Justice of the Peace courtroom under threat of arrest in June 2006. Singh had gone to defend himself from a traffic ticket when he was told by court personnel and Judge Albert Bernard Cercone to remove his “hat.” When Singh tried to explain that wearing a turban is a required religious practice for members of the Sikh faith, the judge and court officials refused to hear his explanation. Sikhs compare the turban to yarmulkes worn by many Orthodox Jews and hijabs worn by many Muslim women and say removing it is humiliating. There are an estimated 500,000 Sikhs in the U.S., according to their legal defense group. “The Constitution protects the right of Mr. Singh and every citizen to access their government without compromising their religious beliefs,” said Lisa Graybill, legal director of the ACLU Foundation of Texas. “By applying this new policy, the county and Judge Cercone will help ensure that right is respected in Dallas County.” Last year, officials in Lawrenceville, Ga. revised their policy after a Sikh man was kept from entering the court because of his turban, according to documents in the lawsuit. A federal guideline also revised last year allows air passengers to keep on headwear such as turbans at screening checkpoints. It gives airport screeners the option to pat down headwear at the metal detector if a passenger does not want to remove it for personal reasons. [http://www.chron.com/]

SALDEF expresses concern to Warner Bros about racist movie title Towelhead; receives commitment to increase Sikh presence in Hollywood Washington, DC—September 22, 2008: The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, participated in a dialogue sponsored by Warner Brothers on September 9, 2008 in connection with Towelhead, a controversial film directed by Alan Ball and based on a novel by author Alicia Erian. The dialogue, which was taped and made available on the website of Warner Independent Pictures, featured Alan Ball, Alicia Erian, and Rajdeep Singh Jolly, Legal Director of SALDEF. While Ball and Erian defended the film title as an effort to draw attention to racism, SALDEF observed that Sikh Americans are often slurred as “towelheads” and expressed concern that the film title is a marketing ploy. “Calling a movie Towelhead is like calling a movie Nigger,” said Rajbir Singh Datta, National Director of SALDEF. “Warner Brothers clearly had no misgivings about using ‘towelhead’ as a movie title, but nobody has addressed whether they would use the word ‘nigger’ as a movie title. If they do, that would reflect poor judgment. If not, why the double standard?” During the dialogue, Mr. Jolly suggested that a more principled and proactive way for the film industry to combat racism would be to project the voices and perspectives of Sikh artists and other minority groups. Ball was receptive to this idea and expressed a willingness to work with the Sikh American community to achieve more parity in the film industry. “Exploiting the shock value of a racial slur for marketing purposes is crass and offensive,” said Kavneet Singh, Managing Director of SALDEF. “As noted in this dialogue, there are better ways to create mutual respect and understanding in American society, and we look forward to working with the film industry in pursuit of these goals.” SALDEF will continue to work with Warner Bros and other Hollywood studios to ensure that Sikhs are represented well in American pop culture. For more information on our activities in Hollywood, please contact SALDEF at mediarelations@saldef.org;

  1. SALDEF Announces Hiring of New Legal Director
  2. Homeland Security Institute request’s SALDEF participation with Security and Technology Panel
  3. Fall 2008 Internship Program: Don’t Miss This Opportunity!
  4. SALDEF Trains New Police Recruits in Maryland
  5. SALDEF Conducts Bullying Presentation at New Jersey Sikh Camp
  6. SALDEF Collaborates with Congressman David Wu on National Solutions to Bullying and Harassment Concerns
  7. SALDEF Attends FBI Centennial
  8. SALDEF Briefs OSCE Representative on Racism in the United States
  9. Legal Updates
  10. 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.

  • 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 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 Requests 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.

SALDEF Train”s New Recruits in Maryland
SALDEF conducted a Sikh American Awareness Training for 40 new police recruits in Howard County Maryland. This training video poker ept 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 was able to hear from United States Attorney General Michael Mukasey, FBI Deputy Director John Pistol, as well as three of her 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 ofSecurity 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.

SALDEF urges all Americans to attend or host screenings in September Washington D.C. – August 29, 2008: The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) is proud to be an organizational sponsor of the over 60 screenings occurring throughout September 2008 of the critically acclaimed documentary, ‘Divided We Fall’. ‘Divided We Fall’ is a dramatic film following Valerie Kaur, then a 20-year-old college student, who traveled across the United States to document the violence against the Sikh American community in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. From the still-shocked streets of Ground Zero to the desert towns of the American west, her journey confronts the forces unleashed in a time of national crisis – racism and religion, fear and forgiveness. ‘Divided We Fall’ will be screened in over 60 communities across the United States. ‘Divided We Fall’ made its world premiere on September 14, 2006 in Phoenix, Arizona to commemorate the five-year memorial of the first American killed in a post-9/11 hate crime, Balbir Singh Sodhi.  The film has been recognized at film festivals, including; Best International Documentary at the ReelWorld Film Festival of Toronto, Best Documentary – Audience Choice at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, and Best Documentary at the New Jersey Independent South Asian Ciné Fest. SALDEF urges all Americans to support the screenings of this film by either attending or hosting one in your area. If you are interested in hosting a screening, contact DWF Tour Director Jodi Elliott at Jodi@dwf-film.com. Please distribute this widely to family, friends and at the local Gurdwara

SALDEF and ADC recognized for landmark partnership with Washington DC Police Force Washington D.C. – July, 24, 2008: This past Tuesday, July 22, 2008, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) each received an award from the Washington DC-Metro Police Department for their work in training the entire police force on the religious and cultural practices of Arab, Muslim, and Sikh Americans. SALDEF National Director Rajbir Singh Datta and ADC Legal Director Nawar Shora were recognized for their efforts in providing uniformed officers with recommendations on how to interact with Arab, Muslim, and Sikh Americans. The 30 week-long training program, which was completed earlier this year, reach almost 3,500 officers. Utilizing a professionally designed interactive presentation, SALDEF’s Training DVD On Common Ground, and other educational publications including our Who are the Sikhs brochure and the first-ever Sikh American Law Enforcement Reference Card, the training program was designed to provide law enforcement with an understanding of Sikh cultural practices and provide recommendations on how to appropriately interact with the community in non-emergency, non-crisis situations. The training was part of SALDEF’s Law Enforcement Partnership Program, which has trained over 100,000 law enforcement officers since it’s inception eight years ago. In 2007 alone, SALDEF training efforts reached over 20,000 law enforcement officers in cities across the nation including Washington, DC; Columbia, MO; Des Moines, IA; Jamestown, NC; Charlestown, WV; and Pittsburgh, PA. “It’s important that police leaders in our community are aware of, and have a thorough understanding, of the diversity of the millions of residents, commuters and the millions of tourists in the Washington DC area,” said SALDEF Managing Director Kavneet Singh. “We encourage the Sikh American community to partner with us and reach out to key civil and law enforcement officials in their local communities to ensure that relationships and connections are developed for greater understanding of who Sikhs are.” The award ceremony was held at the ADC National Headquarters on Wisconsin Ave, NW and attended by over 50 police leaders, civil rights officials, law enforcement representatives and Sikh residents of the local DC-Metropolitan area. CONTACT: Rajbir Singh Datta Phone: 202-393-2700 Ext. 27 E-mail: media@saldef.org

Washington D.C. — July 18, 2007: The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, urges the Sikh American community to contact their Senators to support S. 1105, the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Prevention Act of 2007 (LLEHCPA). Your immediate support is urgently needed. Tell your Senator that hate is not an American or Sikh Value and that this is important legislation that must be passed. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the LLEHCPA earlier this year. It will allow for the federal resources to go to the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes which affect our families and community, and will help to ensure that victims of these crimes see justice. Without the passage of this hate crimes bill, hate crimes committed in our country will continue to go unrecognized, un-investigated, and unpunished. This past week, the importance of this bill became even more apparent to the Sikh American community with the murder of 26-year-old Satender Singh. Mr. Singh was removed from life support after being viciously assault in Sacramento over the July 4th weekend in a bias motivated attack. The assailants have yet to be found. If enacted, the LLEHCPA would assist local authorities with the investigation of hate crimes and ensure that the assailants are brought to justice. Protection from hate- and bias- motivated violence is a basic and essential civil right and the Senate must act now to ensure that this fundamental freedom is guaranteed to all Americans. Click here to contact your senator and urge him/her to support the hate crimes bill. To contact your senator directly, call (202) 224-3131 and request your Senator’s Office Click here for more background on the LLEHCPA.

Golf Digest Apologizes to Sikh Community for Irreverent Display of Image of Sikh Guru
SALDEF commends Golf Digest”s response; thanks community for supporting campaign

Washington D.C. – June 3, 2008: Yesterday, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest and largest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, spoke with Golf Digest Editor-in-Chief and Chairman Jerry Tarde who offered his apology to SALDEF and the Sikh Community for using the display of an image of Guru Arjan Dev Ji as a “golfing guru” in the May 2008 edition.

In a written communication sent to SALDEF, Mr. Tarde stated, “Our editors regret this mistake and have learned an important lesson. Thank you for accepting our apology.” Golf Digest has assented to issue a public apology to the Sikh community in the August issue of the magazine which will come out in July as asked by hundreds of community members. In addition, Golf Digest agreed to SALDEF”s demand to stop the use of the image in their magazine or web site in the future.

The printed apology in the August 2008 edition of Golf Digest will read as follows:

“It has been brought to our attention that an illustration in the May issue of Golf Digest inadvertently depicted a golfing character resembling an image  of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, who is a revered religious figure in Sikhism. This was not our intent. We apologize for the use and for any offense to the Sikh community.”

On Friday, May 30, SALDEF issued a request to the Sikh community to register their protest on the irreverent use of Guru Arjan Dev Ji”s doctored image in Golf Digest. In response to SALDEF”s appeal for community support, hundreds of community members across the country wrote a letter asking Golf Digest to stop the use of the image and to print an apology in their next issue.

“We commend Mr. Tarde and Golf Digest for admitting their unintentional error and issuing an apology to the Sikh community. Their prompt acknowledgement and response is an example of responsible corporate behavior”, said Kavneet Singh, SALDEF Managing Director.  “We know that in order to attract newcomers to the sport of golf, there has been an attempt to implement diversity programs, golf outreach clinics, etc. We hope this experience facilitates better awareness and a desire to be informed about the rich cultural diversity that exists in the United States. We believe cultural awareness will enhance these outreach and diversity efforts.”

SALDEF thanks members of the community for taking the time to support this campaign and write to Golf Digest to voice their concerns.