“The Look” – A Continuous Battle to Protect the Sikh Identity

Employment Discrimination and Harassment on the Rise

Washington D.C. – June 27, 2008: Whether it is at school, on the street, or in the workplace, Sikh Americans continue to face discrimination and harassment due to their Sikh identity. We must stand together to put an end to discrimination and harassment against Sikh Americans in the workplace and schools. In pursuit of this goal, please take a few moments to support the SIKH AMERICAN LITIGATION FUND to ensure that the Sikh American community has a dedicated fund to defend itself in times of need against discrimination and harassment. June 2008 – A Sikh American paramedic in New Mexico is facing potential job displacement due to an allegation that his beard would not allow him to wear a protective mask. May 2008 – A Sikh American woman in Virginia was fired from her job at a Fortune 500 company because of her resolve to wear her kirpan. April 2008 – A Sikh American man in North Carolina was refused a job by a convenience store chain because he purportedly did not have the “corporate look”. January 2008 – A Sikh American man in the Southwest was prevented from taking a post-secondary educational placement test due to his kara, daastar, and kirpan. Additionally, government agencies charged with protecting citizens from employment discrimination and harassment are often unable to respond promptly and effectively to the Sikh American community’s complaints of discrimination and harassment. “For too long, the Sikh American community has relied on the government to protect our civil rights, to protect our families, and to protect our children,” said SALDEF National Director Rajbir Singh Datta.  “It’s time for each of us to recognize that we have the ultimate responsibility for defending ourselves, our community, and our children.” SALDEF urges all Sikhs to join us in defending your right to practice your Sikh faith without any discrimination, fear or consequences. Your donation of $50, $100, $250, $1000 will help establish a permanent Litigation Fund and enable Sikh Americans to combat employment discrimination and harassment. SALDEF urges the Sikh American community to report incidents of discrimination and harassment to SALDEF immediately at info@saldef.org or 202-393-2700.

SALDEF urges retraction and apology for gross irreverence of Sikh faith Washington D.C. – May 30, 2008: The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, calls upon Golf Digest to apologize for the depiction of Sikhism’s Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, as a “Golfing Guru” in its May 2008 edition. Golf Digest Comparison Sign the Petition expressing your displeasure about the image to Golf Digest On page 66 of the publication appears an article titled “The Golf Guru” which answers reader’s questions about general topics associated with golf. The beginning of the article features an image which, at first glance, appears to be a South Asian man dawned in a turban and beard, holding a golf club and wearing a golf glove. The image used is an obvious play on words where consumers have their questions answered by a “Golf Guru.” However, under closer examination, the image Golf Digest uses appears to in fact be a widely distributed picture of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Sikhism’s fifth Guru. Guru Arjan Dev Ji was instrumental in strengthening the message of equality and freedom of the Sikh faith. He stood up against all types of religious oppression and denounced social segregation. SALDEF has contacted Golf Digest publisher, Thomas Blair commenting, “While we understand the message that Golf Digest attempted, and failed, to send to their consumers, the decision to use the specific picture shows the cultural and religious ignorance of Golf Digest staff and senior executives.” SALDEF urges the community to sign the petition to voice your displeasure in the use of the image in their publication. SALDEF would like to thank Sartaj Singh Dhami and Harjit Singh Sandhar for bringing this depiction to our attention and for allowing us to use the photo above which was taken from Mr. Dhami’s blog, Restoring the Pride.

1. First Ever Asian Pacific American Presidential Town Hall 2. SALDEF Meets with USCIS Director Gonzalez 3. SALDEF Trains Maryland Police Chiefs 4. A Dream in Doubt to Screen Nationally on May 20, 2008 5. NASABA Convention to be held in Chicago 6. SALDEF honored by Virginia Sikh Community 7. Legal Updates 8. Community Announcements 9. Upcoming Events First Ever Asian Pacific American Presidential Town Hall SALDEF is proud to be a supporting organization of APIA Vote’s Saturday, May 17, Presidential Town Hall to be held on the campus of the University of California, Irvine, in Orange County, California. The Town Hall will, for the first time, allow the larger Asian Pacific American community address the Presidential Candidates on the issues. The forum expects over 2,000 community leaders, elected officials, voters, and students representing this diverse community from across the country to participate. The Sikh American community is especially encouraged to attend this powerful forum. Our community has the ability to make a visual impact in this forum which is being covered by hundreds of media outlets. Registration is Required (if you would like to sit with other members of the community to make the greatest impact – write “SALDEF” under organization) SALDEF Meets with USCIS Director Gonzalez On April 11, 2008 representatives of SALDEF met with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Emilio Gonzalez. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss concerns over the delays in naturalization and green cards. As a result of the meeting, SALDEF received assurances from Director Gonzalez in regards to the following: * Name Checks pending more than 3 years will be completed by May 31, 2008 * Name Checks pending more than 2 years will be completed by June 30, 2008 * Name Checks pending more than 1 years will be completed by July 31, 2008 * By Summer 2009, 98% of name checks will be completed within 30 days * Green Card holders will now be issued their documents regardless of if the background check was completed. However, the green card can be revoked if a security concern arises. * Naturalization cases pending more the 4 years were resolved in March 2008 * Naturalization cases pending more the 2 years were resolved by May 31, 2008 If you have any questions about the immigration delays or any of the information above, please contact our immigration department at immigration@saldef.org. SALDEF Trains Maryland Police Chiefs On April 17, SALDEF’s team was invited to present information on Sikhism, and cultural practices of South Asians to over 65 Municipal Chiefs from the State of Maryland. The training was an opportunity for the Sikh American community to effectively train senior law enforcement officials throughout Maryland about Sikh religious practices and how to respect their members of the community. Click here for more information on SALDEF’s training efforts. A Dream in Doubt to Screen Nationally on May 20, 2008 SALDEF presents A Dream In DoubtThroughout April and May, SALDEF was proud to be one of the national partners of the ITVS screening of A Dream in Doubt. The film was co-produced by former SALDEF National Director Preetmohan Singh and directed by Tami Yeager. A Dream in Doubt is the story of Rana Singh Sodhi, the brother of Balbir Singh Sodhi, the first causality of post-9/11 backlash and his journey to reclaim the American Dream and fight the hate which threatens his community. The film has been screened in over 30 cities across the United States to date, many with SALDEF or Sikh American panelists discussing the issues the Sikh American community has faced since 9/11. A Dream in Doubt is scheduled to air nationally on PBS on May 20, 2008. Please encourage your friends and family to watch this engaging and important film. Please check your local listings for timings. NASABA Convention to be held in Chicago The Indian American Bar Association of Chicago and the Pakistani American Bar Association of North America are hosting the Annual North American South Asian Bar Association (NASABA) 2008 Convention in Chicago, IL, between June 26-June 28, 2008, at the Westin-Michigan Avenue and the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom. All are invited to attend this Convention, which provides excellent networking opportunities as well a chance to hear from successful professionals on topical issues. The NASABA Chicago Convention team has been working hard to make this Convention great but that can only be assured by your attendance. Registration is currently available at www.nasabaconvention.org. SALDEF is proud to co-sponsor this Convention. SALDEF honored by Virginia Sikh Community On Sunday, April 13, SALDEF was honored by the Virginia Sikh community at the Sikh Foundation of Virginia. Community members commended the efforts of local SALDEF volunteers to assist the Sikh community throughout the Washington, DC, area. Additionally, they expressed their gratitude for SALDEF’s national educational, legislative, and advocacy efforts to defend the rights of the Sikh American community. Legal Updates Since January, SALDEF has received 65 requests for legal assistance of which SALDEF has had to engage in 28 extended redress efforts. These cases involve broad issues from immigration and naturalization, DMV concerns about wearing a dastaar, violations involving the right wear a kirpan, and the denial of entry of a Sikh simply due to his daastar to a public testing facility. To continue our efforts defending Sikh Americans, we need your support to ensure all members of the Sikh community receive the support they need when our faith is under attack. Click here to support SALDEF’s efforts by making a recurring monthly or one-time donation to further our mission of protecting and advocating for the Sikh American community. Community Announcements Narika Legal Internship Narika seeks a legal intern entering either the second or third year of law school to assist in addressing family and immigration law issues affecting our clients. The internship is a full time 10-week program. The intern will split time between the law firm located in Oakland and Narika in the East Bay. Narika has secured a fellowship grant from the South Asian Bar Association Foundation that will allow the intern to be paid a stipend of $3,000. For further compensation, students are encouraged to inquire into their school’s work-study programs. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to the Executive Director of Narika at atashi@narika.org. Due to the nature of our work, the intern must be female. The application deadline is May 14, 2008. R2W Summer Youth Leadership Institute The R2W Summer Youth Leadership Institute is a 15-day residential summer program for high school youth rooted in API culture and consciousness. Over the past five years, more than 150 young people have participated. They meet youth from other places and other cultures, experience life on a college and seminary campus, visit different communities, try new things, and gain valuable leadership skills. In the process they become more aware of their culture and history, more in tune with their faith and spirituality, more confident and articulate, and more outgoing and involved in their churches and communities. R2W will cover travel to and from Berkeley, room, board and the cost of all program activities for the full two weeks for youth who are selected to participate. We ask that each selected participant contribute a $150 registration fee. Limited scholarships are available for the registration fee. Young people who are interested in the R2W Summer Youth Leadership Institute should check out the R2W website (www.represent2witness.org) and complete the application form. Upcoming Events * Law Enforcement Training – Savannah, GA May 15, 2008 * APA Presidential Town Hall – University of California, Irvine – Irvine, CA May 17, 2008 * “Civil Rights in a Post-9/11 America” – University of California, Washington Program – Washington, DC May 19, 2008 * APIA Democratic Summit – Washington, DC May 21, 2008 * Seattle Sikh Retreat – Seattle, WA May 23-26, 2008 * Johns Hopkins University Presentation on Sikhism – Columbia, MD May 30, 2008

1. SALDEF Summer Internship Program: Don’t miss this opportunity! 2. SALDEF Co-Founder Discusses the Effects of Hate Crimes in California 3. EEOC files Federal Lawsuit supporting Sikhs right to wear the Kirpan 4. SALDEF Sponsors Nationwide Screenings of A Dream in Doubt with PBS 5. SALDEF Discusses Naturalization Delays with the FBI 6. SALDEF Lobbies Congress on Workplace Religious Freedom 7. Legal Updates 8. Upcoming Events SALDEF Summer Internship Program: Don’t miss this opportunity! Intern with SALDEFThe 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 for more information. SALDEF Co-Founder Discusses the Effects of Hate Crimes in California On March 13, SALDEF co-founder Jaideep Singh spoke on the plenary panel of a day-long program in Palo Alto, California examining the continuing danger of hate crimes in our society. Entitled Beyond Us and Them: Confronting Hidden Bias in Our Community, the event was attended by over 150 community activists and leaders, including the police chiefs of Palo Alto and East Palo Alto, police detectives, the Mayor of Palo Alto, and the Deputy District Attorney for Santa Clara County. Mr. Singh described the domestic terrorism directed at Sikh Americans during the national hate crime epidemic of historic proportions following September 11, 2001. In addition, he discussed the inordinate number of shootings of Sikh American cab drivers in the San Francisco Bay Area since 9/11, and the resulting fatalities. He also highlighted the pervasiveness of racial profiling in the post-9/11 era, emphasizing how Sikh Americans have been particularly affected by this “illegal, immoral, ineffective” policing method, contextualizing his comments within the long history of the practice in the United States. Co-Sponsors of the event, which was organized by “Not In Our Town: Silicon Valley”, included the Santa Clara County Network for a Hate-Free Community and the Palo Alto and Mountain View Human Relations Commissions. EEOC files Federal Lawsuit supporting Sikhs right to wear the Kirpan The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a Federal lawsuit against ManorCare Health Services, a nursing home operator, for refusing to allow a Sikh American employee to wear her kirpan, a religiously mandated article of faith. The EEOC asserts that Baljit Bhandal, a 41-year-old dietary aide, lost her job because ManorCare Health Services refused to accommodate her religious beliefs. Bhandal, an amritdhari Sikh employee of ManorCare’s Citrus Heights, Calif. facility, wore a small, dull and sheathed kirpan (religious sword) strapped underneath her clothing as a symbol of her commitment to defend truth and moral values. Although her faith requires her to wear a kirpan in order to comply with the Sikh Code of Conduct, her employer instructed Bhandal not to wear the kirpan at work because it violated the company policy against “weapons” in the workplace. According to the EEOC, ManorCare forced Bhandal to choose between her job and honoring her religious belief even after receiving literature explaining that the kirpan is a religious artifact, not a weapon. This is the second such allegation of discrimination against ManorCare. The EEOC’s Detroit Field Office filed the first suit against Manor Care (EEOC v. HCR Manor Care, Case No. 2:07cv1370) in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in August 2007. If you have been denied access or been subjected to any form of harassment due to your faith or for carrying your mandated Sikh articles of faith, please report it to SALDEF immediately at 202-393-2700 or via info@saldef.org SALDEF Sponsors National Screening of A Dream in Doubt with PBS SALDEF presents A Dream In Doubt. SALDEF is proud to be one of the national partners of ITVS’s screening of A Dream in Doubt. The film was co-produced by former SALDEF National Director Preetmohan Singh and Directed by Tami Yeager. A Dream in Doubt is the story of Rana Singh Sodhi, the brother of Balbir Singh Sodhi, the first causality of post-9/11 backlash and his journey to reclaim the American Dream and fight the hate which threatens his community. A Dream in Doubt will be screened in 28 locations starting on April 1, 2008, across the nation culminating with a May 20, 2008, National Airing on PBS. SALDEF will be sending periodic emails about upcoming screenings in your area. Make sure you and your friends are on SALDEF’s email list so that you receive announcements about these local opportunities. SALDEF Discusses Naturalization Delays with the FBI In a meeting with senior officials at FBI Headquarters, naturalization delays took center stage. Over the course of the past year, SALDEF has been working with the FBI and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to bring to their attention that millions of Americans are not becoming naturalized within the 180 day mandated time frame due to pending FBI name checks. Total incoming applications amount to on average of 78,000 per week. While the FBI has committed to hiring additional staff to decrease the backlog, reports show that 74% of the applications which cleared the FBI background checks have been stalled by USCIS. Along with the increase in staff, the FBI has implemented key management changes in order to stream line the process of naturalization applications. If you are, or know of a community member, who is facing a delay in naturalization contact SALDEF immediately at 202-393-2700 or info@saldef.org. SALDEF Lobbies Congress on Workplace Religious Freedom On February 12, 2008, the House Committee on Education and Labor held the 110th Congress’s first hearing on the Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2008. The bill would increase protections of Sikh Americans from discrimination based on their daastar (turban), kirpan, kesh, or kara. This piece of legislation is vital to the future economic success of the most vulnerable within our community. Throughout February, the WRFA coalition, of which SALDEF is the only active Sikh organization, met with dozens of Congresspersons encouraging them to support the bill and co-sponsor including Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Rep. Chris Holt (D-NJ), Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), and Rep. George Miller (D-CA). Legal Updates Since January, SALDEF has received 50 requests for legal assistance of which SALDEF has accepted to engage in 20. These cases involve broad issues from immigration and naturalization, DMV concerns, violations involving the right wear a kirpan, and the denial of entry of a Sikh simply due to his daastar. Unfortunately, SALDEF’s limited resources do not allow us to take on all the cases we receive as we wish we could. Recent Cases include: * Defending the right of Sikhs to wear turbans when getting a driver’s license * Ensuring Sikhs receive fair treatment during the immigration process * Defending the right of Sikhs to carry their kirpans * Representing Sikhs denied services due to their faith We need your support now to ensure all members of the Sikh community receive the support they need when their faith is under attack. Click here to support SALDEF’s efforts in protecting and advocating for the Sikh American community.

Help Support local efforts to educate about Sikhs As part of SALDEF’s Law Enforcement Partnership Program, 4,200 police officials of the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department are now informed about Sikh Americans and Sikh religious practices. SALDEF and its volunteers provided similar Sikh awareness training over a period of one year to the entire 3,000+ officers of the Boston Police Department. When police officers are informed and aware of the Sikh identity, their response is positive and appropriate when interacting with Sikh Americans, unlike what we saw last month when local Texas police initially refused to file a complaint when a Texas A&M University Sikh international graduate student was accosted outside a Wal-Mart parking lot by an unknown male who assaulted the Sikh student screaming ‘terrorist’ while punching him in the face, knocking his daastar off. Unfortunately, many police departments do not have the budget to pay for the training that SALDEF provides. Every one hour of training, along with free educational materials, that SALDEF delivers on behalf of the Sikh American community costs $250. Help us increase our capacity and resources to take SALDEF’s Law Enforcement Partnership Program to other police departments across the country. Your monthly contribution of $20 will help fund one such training session for a police department. In 2007 alone, SALDEF’s staff and volunteers were directly responsible for training over 12,000 law enforcement officials in 17 states. Additionally, as of February 2008, all 43,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners at the nation’s airports have been trained on Sikh culture and beliefs by watching SALDEF’s training video

Over 40,000 calendars have been distributed across the country Washington, DC: March 7, 2008 – For the fifth straight year, SALDEF has produced the Sikh Awareness Pocket Calendars which have been again been a tremendous success. A limited quantity still remain so hurry and place your order for these easy-to-use tools that can aid in increasing the awareness about Sikh Americans to your local community. The 2008 calendars have full-color images of Sikh Americans, along with examples of core Sikh values and facts about Sikhs in the United States. On the reverse, they feature an easy to use 2008 calendar. Additionally, to help you reach out more effectively to your community, friends, and neighbors, Spanish language versions of the 2008 pocket calendars are also available. To date, over 30,000 English and nearly 10,000 Spanish Calendars have been distributed in 2008. The calendars are available in packages of 100 for $10 plus shipping and handling fees. Order Your 2008 Pocket Calendars Today! The calendars are perfect for distribution at your workplace, schools, convenience store, gas station, senior citizens center, or public library. Sikhs across the nation have shared them with their friends, neighbors, customers, and local officials. Over the past five years, over 300,000 calendars have been distributed across the country. Additionally, SALDEF is also offering community members the opportunity to order personalized Sikh Awareness cards. These cards will have the design of the purchaser’s choice on the front and will have information about Sikh Americans on the back. This option is great for college students, professionals, and anyone else wanting to expand understanding of the Sikh religion. SALDEF commends the Sikh American community for taking the initiative to inform their friends, co-workers, customers, and acquaintances about their culture and faith. To order the calendars and other SALDEF publications, please click here or email SALDEF at pubs@saldef.org.

Department of Justice Adds SALDEF Sikh Cultural Awareness Training to Community Relations Service (CRS) Website

SALDEF has played a leading role in improving the understanding of Sikh American religious and cultural practices among law enforcement and government agencies nationwide.

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), SALDEF developed On Common Ground: Sikh American Cultural Competency Training for Law Enforcement, a training video designed to reduce bias, prevent misunderstandings, and strengthen relationships between Sikh communities and public institutions.

Launched: January 2007

Reach: Viewed by more than 65,000 law enforcement officials in the United States

Adoption: Used by all TSA screeners at U.S. airports

Global Impact: Requested by law enforcement agencies in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, India, and Brazil

Federal Recognition: Hosted by the DOJ’s Community Relations Service (CRS)

Click Here to View On Commond Ground Video

This work builds on SALDEF’s broader Educational Outreach efforts with federal agencies, including:

  • DOJ Collaboration (2004): Common Sikh American Head Coverings — a poster educating local, state, and federal officials on Sikh articles of faith, including the dastaar (turban), and best practices for respectful engagement.
  • DHS Collaboration (2006): Sikh Americans and the Kirpan — guidance developed with the Department of Homeland Security to promote awareness and ensure appropriate interactions between Sikh Americans and federal law enforcement.

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.”

Together, these initiatives demonstrate SALDEF’s long-standing commitment to proactive education, institutional accountability, and protecting the civil rights and dignity of Sikh Americans through partnership and policy-informed outreach.

SALDEF urges you to tell Congressional Leaders to support the Hate Crimes Prevention provisions in the Department of Defense conference report. This legislation brings much needed uniformity to federal hate crime laws and reflects the growing support for stronger hate crime legislation on the state level. Every year, Sikh Americans across the nation find themselves the victim of a hate crime. It is important that the victims of hate crimes see justice. Unfortunately, current law does not always offer them that hope. Click here to learn more and urge Congress to take action.

Background: Founded as the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART) in 1996, SALDEF is the oldest Sikh American civil rights and educational organization in the United States.  We empower Sikh Americans through four program areas: legal assistance, educational outreach, legislative advocacy and media relations. Summary: 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 practical experience in community organizing, research and writing, legal issues, political action, and educational outreach. SALDEF is seeking interns to assist in the following 4 areas: Legal Research Interns (2 positions) Intern(s) will conduct legal research on issues relating to religious freedom under the supervision of SALDEF’s Legal Director. The Intern(s) will be encouraged to develop writing projects for submission to law reviews and other legal periodicals. Applicant must be enrolled at an accredited law school, have excellent research and writing skills, and must be mature, responsible, and goal-oriented. Legislative Interns (2 positions) Intern(s) will be intimately involved with lobbying on National and State legislation. Functions include organizing lobby visits with Congressional offices, drafting official correspondence supporting specific legislation, and engaging in an innovative legislative strategy on hate crimes, religious freedom, racial profiling, and immigration.  Applicant must be highly self-motivated and mature. Legislative experience is not necessary. Communications Intern (1 position) Intern will work with SALDEF staff to develop a comprehensive professional communications strategy with the goal of expanding SALDEF’s reach into the community and relationships with national and international media outlets. Applicant must have some background in Journalism, Communications, or a comparable field. Experience in advanced Web 2.0 initiatives required. Development Interns (2 positions) Intern(s) will work with senior SALDEF staff assisting in the design and implementation of a development strategy to grow SALDEF’s organizational capacity and community outreach efforts. Applicant must have experience in Business, Management or comparable field. Qualifications: The program is designed for Sikh American students, although students of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Applicant must exhibit; excellent writing/research skills; demonstrated academic achievement; skill in the use of personal computers and related software applications; good work ethic and motivated highly desirable; attention to detail a must. Benefits: Applicants will have the opportunity to be mentored by civil rights leaders and attend political events in the Nation’s Capital. Applicants will have the unique opportunity to work on National issues of concern and develop critical project management and implementation skills and techniques. College credit for internship has also been arranged in the past. Education: Applicants must have completed at least one year of undergraduate studies. Preferred College Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors; Graduate Students. Location: Applicants are preferred to work in Washington, DC. Remote access work is offered on a case-by-case basis. Time: Internships are offered full-time (40 hours per week) and with occasional weekend and evening commitments Schedules are flexible according to each candidate’s commitments. Stipend: Availability is based on a case-by-case basis. Deadline: ROLLING To Apply: Interested applicants should send a cover letter with references, resume, and 5-page writing sample to the below address. If applying for a stipend, please add a Statement of Need. SALDEF C/O Internship Director 1413 K Street NW, 5th Floor Washington, DC 20005 Faxes accepted at (202) 318-4433 Email applications as word attachments to info@saldef.org

The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) continues to work for the community to ensure the Sikh American voice is heard at all levels of government, from Congress to State Legislatures. Hate Crime Legislation SALDEF is the only Sikh American organization working with Congress. This vital piece of legislation would assist state and local anti-bias efforts by enabling the Justice Department to assist officials in the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes. Religious Freedom Legislation SALDEF is the only Sikh American organization working with Congress to ensure that Sikhs are not forced to check their religion at the door of their workplace. The Workplace Religious Freedom Act (WRFA) would prevent employers from denying employment or advancement to a Sikh simply because of his or her daastar, kesh, kirpan, or kara. Anti-Bullying Legislation SALDEF is the only Sikh American organization working with Congress to ensure our children attend school free from harassment and bullying. Our children have the right to be academically successful and free from bullying; however, many schools across the country have inadequate policies governing school harassment. Racial Profiling Legislation SALDEF is the only Sikh American organization working with Congress on the End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA). This legislation will prohibit law enforcement from engaging in racial profiling and targeting Americans solely based on their physical appearance. If you believe in protecting your fellow Sikhs from hate crimes, workplace discrimination, and bullying show your support today! Government Relations SALDEF continues to collaborate with government officials, representing the interests of the Sikh American community. SALDEF is continually the sole Sikh representative at meetings with the United States Attorney General and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Through your generous support, SALDEF will be able to continue to ensure that Congress passes laws which protect the rights of Sikh Americans across the nation. Make your tax-deductible contribution before the year ends to support this work done in the spirit of seva.