Thanks to the largest Sikh pro-bono legal team in the nation, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), has successfully defended the rights of hundreds of Sikh Americans. Protecting Our Children: Pennsylvania SALDEF defended of Harshaan Singh Athwal to wear his patka while playing for his youth soccer team. Harshaan was barred from playing his favorite sport by a referee who felt concerned by his patka. SALDEF worked with his family and the Lehigh Valley Youth Soccer League to ensure Harshaan would be allowed to play soccer while wearing his mandated religious head covering. You can help protect our children across the country for as little as $5 or $10 a month. Defending Constitutional Rights: Texas SALDEF and the ACLU on behalf of Amardeep Singh who was denied his constitutional right to defend himself in court because he is a Sikh. Mr. Singh was thrown out of a Dallas Courtroom because the Judge felt the turban was a violation of the court’s dress policy. If you believe in protecting the constitutional rights and guaranteed freedoms of your fellow Sikhs show your support today! Ensuring Religious Freedom: Oregon Meherbani Kaur Khalsa was stopped by an agent at the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) from taking her driver’s license photograph while wearing her turban. SALDEF worked with the State of Oregon to clarify the exception for religious head coverings and allow Ms. Khalsa to maintain her Sikh identity for her Drivers License. Justice for Victims of Hate: Maryland On the anniversary of September 11, a horrified family saw their grandfathers return home severely beaten after their evening walk. SALDEF worked with county officials and the local community to identify the high school aged attackers. SALDEF continues to work with the police and local schools in Maryland increase awareness and understanding of the Sikh American community. Through your generous support, SALDEF will continue to defend the rights of Sikh Americans across the nation. Make your one-time or recurring contribution before the year ends to help continue this work done in the spirit of seva.
Defending the Rights of Sikh Americans
Over 60,000 law enforcement officials from across the United States have screened On Common Ground: Sikh American Cultural Awareness Training for Law Enforcement.
| Law Enforcement Trained in 2007 Federal Agencies: Local Officials in: |
In a groundbreaking partnership, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) and the U.S. Department of Justice – Community Relations Service (DOJ-CRS) produced this pioneering Sikh American cultural awareness training film especially for law enforcement. You can watch the film .
Then U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez reflected, “[On Common Ground] makes clear that Sikhs are an integral part of American society. I commend CRS, and I offer my sincere appreciation to CRS and SALDEF for their perseverance and creative effort in producing this educational film.”
Since its release in 2007, the training program has become an integral part of law enforcement education throughout the United States and is used extensively by federal, state, and local law enforcement. The training video is also being used as a model for law enforcement agencies worldwide including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.
Through your generous support, SALDEF will continue to develop innovative strategies to inform the American public about Sikhism and create a more inviting environment for our families and children. Make your contribution before the year ends to support this work done in the spirit of seva.
Order Custom Sikh American Awareness Cards for Your Business Washington, DC: December 19, 2007 – With 2008 around the corner, now is the time to place your order for the popular Sikh Awareness Pocket Calendars. The calendars are an easy-to-use tool to increase awareness about Sikhs and Sikhism in your local community. In their fifth year of production, over 250,000 calendars have already been distributed. 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. The English and Spanish calendars are available in packages of 100 for $10 plus shipping and handling. Custom Sikh American Awareness cards are also available. Perfect for business and individuals, these cards feature your custom design on the front and an introduction on Sikh Americans on the back. For more information or to place an order, email pubs@saldef.org. The calendars are perfect for distribution at your workplace, convenience store, gas station, senior citizens center, schools, or public library. Hundreds of thousands of 2008 calendars have already been shared with friends, neighbors, customers, and officials.
Year-Long Campaign Trains Entire Boston Police Force
Washington, D.C. – December 11, 2007: The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest and largest Sikh American civil rights organization, concluded a highly successful year-long campaign to train the entire Boston Police Department (BPD) on Sikh religious practices. The over 3,000 BPD officers join the 95,000 trained by SALDEF across the nation. 
Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis remarked: “This program has provided officers a tremendous opportunity to broaden their knowledge of the cultural and historical factors impacting the Sikh community. The city of Boston is a melting pot of diversity. Therefore, it is critical that our officers are exposed to a curriculum that includes cross-cultural awareness that strengthens community relations and prevents cultural misunderstandings.” Beginning in January 2007, SALDEF New England Director Navjeet Singh and a group of dedicated community activists and volunteers have been training law enforcement officers every week to increase cultural awareness of the Sikh American community and develop an ongoing partnership between law enforcement and the community. “It’s important that police leaders in our community are aware of and have an understanding of the diversity in the City of Boston,” said Mr. Singh. “The completion of this training is a first step in working more with our fellow Americans to ensure they understand who we are and what we believe.” 
The training is part of SALDEF’s Law Enforcement Partnership Program which has trained over 95,000 law enforcement officers over the past eight years. In 2007 alone, SALDEF training efforts have already reached over 14,000 law enforcement officers in cities across the nation including Washington, DC; Columbia, MO; Des Moines, IA; Greensboro, NC; Charlestown, WV; Portland, OR; and Pittsburgh, PA. Additionally, all 43,000 Transportation Security Officers in the United States will view On Common Ground by year’s end as part of their mandated training. SALDEF would like to thank the U.S. Department of Justice and acknowledge the Boston volunteers: Satnam Singh, Sarbjit Singh Thiara, Kanwaldeep Singh Arneja, Jaswant Singh Chani, KaviRaj Singh, and Achint Kaur, for their dedication to ensure this training endeavor was carried out to its successful conclusion. If you would like to conduct a similar training in your area, please contact SALDEF at training@saldef.org or (202) 393-2700.
English and Spanish calendars available to help educate the community Washington, DC: November 20, 2007 – As 2008 nears, now is the time to place your order for the Sikh Awareness Pocket Calendars. The calendars are a popular and easy-to-use tool to increase awareness about Sikhs and Sikhism in your local community. In their fifth year of production, 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 back, the calendars have a 2008 calendar in a small, handy, easy-to-use design. The calendars are available in packages of 100 for $10 plus shipping and handling fees.
| “The Pocket Calendars are a great way to introduce myself to my customers. They are a must have for all Sikh businesses.” An Oregon Small Business Owner |
To help you reach out more effectively to your community, friends, and neighbors, Spanish language versions of the 2008 pocket calendars are also available. 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. Finally, SALDEF is again 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. Please contact us at pubs@saldef.org for more information. SALDEF commends the Sikh American community for taking the initiative to inform their friends, co-workers, customers, and acquaintances about their culture and faith.
Washington, D.C., November 13, 2007 — The Commonwealth of Virginia Medical Examiner has ruled the death of Simran Singh an “accident” despite evidence of dozens of severe bruises to Mr. Singh’s head, neck, and torso. Additionally, the report indicates that Mr. Singh was physically restrained and choked by his assailants for “four to five minutes.” On August 3, 2007, Simran Singh, a twenty-one year-old student from George Mason University, was reportedly found by police on I-395 in Arlington, Virginia, unconscious, badly bruised, and bleeding severely. Four individuals were with Mr. Singh at the time – to SALDEF’s knowledge, none have been charged or even investigated. During their investigation, the Arlington County Police Department engaged in a series of questionable practices which SALDEF considers police misconduct. Over the course of the investigation, SALDEF has come across numerous instances in which the Detective on the case hindered the criminal investigation. The Arlington County Board was contacted by SALDEF and key individuals who met with the family. The County Board has yet to assist the parents of Mr. Singh in their attempts to understand what happened to their son or addressing concerns about police misconduct during the investigation. The offices of Senator John Warner, Congressman Tom Davis, and Governor Tim Kaine have expressed their support and offered assistance to the family. SALDEF urges the community to ensure that justice is found in this case and that Simran Singh’s assailants are not allowed to escape justice. The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, has expressed the deep concerns of the Washington, DC metropolitan Sikh American community over the investigation and handling of the incident by Arlington County. SALDEF has fielded countless calls from concerned community members regarding this incident. PRESS CONTACT: media@saldef.org
New Tool Developed to Help Protect Sikh Travelers’ Rights Washington, D.C.– October 26, 2007: On Saturday, October 27, 2007, new airport screening procedures will go into effect with respect to baggy clothing and all head coverings. To help Sikh travelers go through the screening process, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the Sikh Coalition, and UNITED SIKHS, have developed “A Sikh Traveler’s Guide” to screening procedures at American airports. The “Sikh Traveler’s Guide” contains a detailed description of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) head covering screening policy and steps to be taken if you are wearing a turban. The document also describes your rights as a traveler through America’s airports. It is available in English and Punjabi. To help Sikh travelers more easily navigate the screening process, SALDEF has created a simple visual guide available in English and Punjabi. This guide can easily be carried with you while you travel. In response to the efforts of the Sikh American community and concerns over improper searches of the turban, an article of faith, the TSA worked to develop screening procedures which help to ensure the safety of the nation’s airports and respects the religious practices of all travelers. In order to ensure the procedure is being effectively implemented SALDEF requests you document your airport screening experience. Your feedback will give us the data to inform TSA if the new security procedure is effective and respectful of the religious freedom of all Americans.
SALDEF receives Congressional Citation from Congressman Chris Van Hollen
Washington, DC: October 19, 2007 – On October 11, 2007, Sikh Americans and civil rights leaders from across the nation gathered to join the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest and largest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, to recognize individuals who have helped in the empowerment and development of the Sikh American Community.
The Reverand Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, President of the Interfaith Alliance, set the tone of the evening with his keynote address, “When the next chapter of the Civil Rights struggle is written, not only will there be the names of King and Height, Bond and Parks, there will be the names Singh and Kaur.” Rev. Gaddy reflected on the recent controversy over the turban screening policy, “Your current struggle in the Sikh community, your current struggle with the TSA, highlights the sad challenge that stems from ignorance about religion, and the fear that is eroding the foundation of our Constitution.” Rev. Gaddy praised the efforts of the Sikh community, “Of all of the religious traditions that I know of in this nation, the Sikh community has done a better job identifying itself to the American public than any other religious group.” View Rev. Gaddy”s remarks .
The Office of Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) presented a Congressional Citation to SALDEF for “working to guarantee civil rights…and encourage[ing] our community to embrace and appreciate its diversity.” SALDEF President Mirin Kaur, accepted the award on behalf of SALDEF and applauded Congressman Van Hollen’s commitment to the protection of Sikh American civil rights in Maryland.
Sardar Ujagar Singh was honored with the Bhagat Singh Thind Community Empowerment Award for his decades of sewa (selfless-service) and dedication to Sikh American youth. Through Camp Chardi Kala, Sardar Ujagar Singh has educated and inspired countless Sikh American youth and filled them with the pride in their faith. Sardar Singh noted the success of his campers and the work SALDEF is doing for the community. Watch Sardar Ujagar Singh”s remarks .
Danial Sutherland, Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Department of Homeland Security, received the SALDEF Public Service Award for developing a more sustainable relationship between the Arab, Muslim, and Sikh American community and DHS which will help protect minority communities and better safeguard the United States
Julian Bond, Chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, received the Dorothy Height Coalition Building Award for his lifetime dedication to advancing the civil rights of all Americans. Rev. Gaddy praised Julian Bond as “a living example of a reason not to lose hope.” Mr. Bond shared, “You couldn’t help but sit through this evening and not recognize the commonality between us. If you are a human being you have equal rights, and those equal rights must be respected not only by your fellow humans, but by the states in which you live. It is encouraging to see others struggling for this common cause.”
Sukhman Singh Dhami and Jaskaran Kaur, were both recognized with the inaugural SALDEF Youth Leadership Award as co-founders and co-directors of ENSAAF a premier Sikh human rights organization, dedicated to the struggle for justice of our brothers and sisters in Punjab and across the world. Their dedication to the cause of justice and equality is a true inspiration for young Sikhs across the country.
Local Sikh American community and SALDEF work together to secure apology Washington, DC: October 12, 2007 – Yesterday, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest and largest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, received a formal apology from Mr. Jaipal Reddy, Chairman and CEO of Radio Salaam Namaste in response to complaints from the Sikh American community in Texas and a letter from SALDEF. On the evening of October 6, 2007, Radio Salaam Namaste DJ’s Sadat and Talha made several jokes and disparaging remarks about ‘Sardars’ (male members of the Sikh faith). They then encouraged listeners to call-in to the station with more jokes about members of the Sikh faith. “Your comments demonstrate a significant lack of judgment and professionalism and perpetuate an extremely hurtful and demeaning stereotype about members of the Sikh faith. [Additionally] such stereotypes not only directly affect Sikh American listeners, but also color the perceptions of your listeners and affect their relationships with members of the Sikh American community,” wrote SALDEF to the DJs and station management. In addition to the written apology, Radio Salaam Namaste is playing a taped apology on the air every hour. Listen to the apology here. “We appreciate the prompt response from Mr. Reddy and his willingness to meet with members of the community,” said SALDEF National Director, Rajbir Singh Datta. “This resolution is a prime example of the positive results that come from community partnership and action.” SALDEF would like to acknowledge and thank Manmohan Singh of World Sikh Council for working locally with the radio station and facilitating a meeting with local community members and the station.
Representatives to discuss revised TSA screening procedure Washington D.C. – August 29, 2007: The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) will be represented live by Rajbir Singh Datta, Associate Director, on Fox News Channel’s “Your World with Neil Cavuto” this afternoon. 4:00pm EST. Additionally, Manjit Singh, SALDEF Chairman, will be appearing on Fox News Live hosted by Jon Scott and Ed Hill at NOON EST. Mr. Datta and Mr. Singh will discuss the Transportation Security Agency’s recent decision on August 4, 2007 to allow screening officers greater “discretion” regarding passenger screening and to enforce additional screening for individuals who wear head coverings. As per the TSA, the new procedure is aimed at head coverings that can possibly hide a threatening non-metallic object. The guidance regarding the new screening procedure, provided to the 43,000 TSOs, lists the Sikh turban among others (cowboy hats, straw hats, etc.), as an example of head coverings that may potentially hide a threatening non-metallic object. To send comments to program email: cavuto@foxnews.com. As with all live television programming, the show is subject to change without notice. For more information on your rights as a passenger, please see below: New Airport Security Screening Procedure Affects Sikh Turban SALDEF working with TSA to Address Improper Security New Procedure Announced for Individuals to Clear their Name from TSA Watch Lists SALDEF: Airport Security and Your Rights as a Passenger