June 4, 2010 (Washington, D.C.) — The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, calls on South Carolina Republican State Senator Jake Knotts to apologize, recognize, and acknowledge the divisive impact and hateful history of the term “raghead” which he used to describe both President Barack Obama and South Carolina State Senator and Gubernatorial candidate Nikky Haley. ”There is no place for comments like this is any situation, especially by political officials and public servants, and we are disappointed in Senator Knott,” said SALDEF Associate Executive Director Jasjit Singh. “Such divisive comments only serve to further weaken the diversity that has made our county so strong. Racial slurs are unacceptable no matter the supposed intent of humor. We call on Senator Knotts to offer a real apology for his divisive comments and recognize the hateful nature of term ‘raghead’.” Since the tragic events of 9/11, Sikh Americans and others have been the victims of discrimination, bias motivated attacks, and hate crimes because of their perceived ethnicity or religion. Terms such as “raghead” have been a common feature in these incidents of harassment. SALDEF is deeply concerned with comments like these that consistently try and categorize Sikh Americans, or anyone of Arab, Muslim or South Asian descent, as being un-American or having intentions to harm the country. Read More: SALDEF Letter to Sen. Knotts
Statement on SC State Sen. Jack Knotts Use of the Term “Raghead”
Congressman Dan Burton
Essentially WRFA came about due to a loophole in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Act required employers to provide a reasonable accommodation for their employees’ religious beliefs, practices, and observances unless it would pose an undue hardship. Turns out a lot of employers thought a lot of things were undue hardships. The Supreme Court addressed the issue in 1977 stating anything more than a de minimis cost, and even the possibility of an adverse impact was sufficient to claim an undue burden. The phrasing of the Civil Rights Act and the Supreme Court decision essentially results in Americans having to choose between practicing their religion and keeping their jobs. WRFA aims to fix this issue by creating a comprehensive protection of workplace freedom, eliminating unfair loopholes. Representative Burton was the man we were trying to draft onto the team. A lot of statistics and facts were spewed back and forth as the logistics and timing of the bill was discussed. As the big dogs discussed the Act I felt fortunate to be a bench warmer witnessing history in the making with a front row seat. As we exited down the steps onto Independence Avenue the outcome of the meeting was up in the air. Whether we had scored a touchdown was yet to be determined but one thing was for sure the Sikh voice had been heard and it was wearing the same uniform. – Dilroop Kaur
Rep. Mike Honda (CA)
1. Proposed Federal Law Threatens Sikh Turban 2. National Media Spotlights Oregon’s Sikh Teacher Ban 3. Justice Department Takes Note of Oregon Issue 4. Another California Police Department Welcomes Sikhs 5. Sikhs Urged to Distribute Punjabi ‘Know Your Rights’ Material 6. Photos of Proud Sikhs Needed for New SALDEF Website Proposed Federal Law Threatens Sikh Turban Sixteen (16) interfaith civil rights and community organizations have joined together to voice concern about the PASS ID Act of 2009, a proposed federal law that could have a severe impact on observant Sikhs, Jews, Muslims and others who are required to wear religious headcoverings. Click here to read an interfaith letter to the Senate Homeland Security Committee The PASS ID Act of 2009 contemplates uniform standards for driver’s license and other identification photographs throughout the United States. It is designed to replace the REAL ID Act of 2005, which has been hugely unpopular among state governments. Like its predecessor, the PASS ID Act contains no explicit guarantee that religious headcoverings may continue to be worn in driver’s license and other identification photographs. This gaping hole in the proposed law may be exploited by the Department of Homeland Security and give the agency an opportunity to depart from well-settled State Department standards and either (1) ban headcoverings in driver’s license and other identification photographs, or (2) make it easier for states to do so. These are not theoretical concerns. Earlier this year, SALDEF and numerous interfaith organizations overcame efforts by the legislatures of Oklahoma and Minnesota to ban headcoverings in driver’s license photographs. In addition, SALDEF worries that bureaucrats at the Department of Homeland Security believe that headcoverings should not be worn in identification photographs. Do you want the United States to turn into France, where Sikhs are banned from wearing their dastaars (turbans) in identification photographs? Do you want to live in a society in which you cannot travel or enter into transactions because you lack a ‘valid’ identification document? If not, please call your U.S. Senators today and tell them to amend the PASS ID Act of 2009 so that it protects our inalienable right to wear religious headcoverings in driver’s license and other identification photographs. National Media Spotlights Oregon’s Sikh Teacher Ban Two months after SALDEF spearheaded an interfaith protest against Oregon’s failure to repeal a law enacted almost a century ago by supporters of the Ku Klux Klan, the Associated Press has published a nationally syndicated article about the issue, which has been reproduced in the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, CBS News, MSNBC. SALDEF encourages the Sikh American community to distribute these articles far and wide to help create awareness about this issue. Oregon is one of only three states in the country that forbid public school teachers from wearing religious clothing in the classroom. Although Oregon’s law was aimed at Catholics in the 1920s, observant Sikhs, Jews, and Muslims currently bear the brunt of its enforcement and cannot pursue careers as public school teachers in Oregon. Justice Department Takes Note of Oregon Issue 
On August 31, 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a letter acknowledging SALDEF’s concerns about Oregon’s ban on religious clothing for school teachers. The agency said that it would give “careful consideration” to the issue. In light of this development, if you have ever been denied employment as a public school teacher (or as a substitute teacher) by the State of Oregon because of your Sikh articles of faith, please contact SALDEF as soon as possible. To learn more about this issue, read our Action Alert entitled Religious Freedom v. Ku Klux Klan, and please continue to visit our website for updates. Another California Police Department Welcomes Sikhs 
The Marysville (CA) Police Department has joined six other California police departments in welcoming observant Sikh applicants. According to Chief Wallace C. Fullerton, “the City of Marysville is an equal opportunity employer who seeks to recruit all qualified candidates, regardless of their religious [beliefs].”
Click here to read our previous advisory about police departments opening their doors to Sikh Americans SALDEF encourages Sikh Americans to pursue positions as police officers. Doing so will reinforce the fact that Sikhs are an integral and inseparable part of American society and help break stereotypes that make Sikhs vulnerable to bias and discrimination. If you would like to learn more about SALDEF’s Law Enforcement Partnership Program, please visit our website.
Sikhs Urged to Distribute Punjabi Language ‘Know Your Rights’ Material
Since the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, government agencies have published free “Know Your Rights” materials in the Punjabi language. Many of these publications are available for downloading online, and SALDEF encourages the Sikh American community to distribute these materials widely at Gurdwaras around the United States to help spread awareness about our civil rights: – EEOC Fact Sheet on Workplace Discrimination – Justice Department Fact Sheet on National Origin Discrimination SALDEF has updated the Know Your Rights section of its website and invites feedback about making it more responsive to the needs of the Sikh American community, especially as we develop our new website.
Photos of Proud Sikhs Needed for New SALDEF Website
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.
A bill passed by the Oregon Legislature that broadens religious freedom in the workplace has prompted protests by some faith leaders because it exempts schools. The bill requires employers to allow workers to wear certain clothing, grow beards and take certain days off to observe their religious practices. But it specifically carves out school districts in Oregon, one of two states that expressly forbid teachers from wearing religious clothing. The exemption drew the ire of some groups, especially Sikhs, whose members wear turbans and other distinctive clothes — and have been barred from teaching in Oregon as a result. The new law “fails in its essence if it doesn’t honestly and comprehensively provide religious freedom for all Oregonians,” said Rajdeep Singh Jolly, law director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund in Washington, D.C. “It smacks of irony,” Jolly said of the bill, which was hailed by legislative leaders as improving the climate for diverse religions in Oregon. “It takes two steps forward and 10 steps back.” The bill, titled the Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act, grants workers wide religious leeway as long as the activity, clothing or other practices don’t cause an undue hardship on the employer. Religious organizations typically applaud such measures. But the school exemption has highlighted what some think is a glaring hole in Oregon’s efforts to expand religious freedoms. “It seems like it would apply to a Muslim woman wearing a hijab or a Jew wearing a yarmulke,” said Richard Foltin, director of national and legislative affairs for the American Jewish Committee in Washington, D.C. “We’re especially concerned about that.” Oregon has had a law on the books for decades that states, “No teacher in any public school shall wear any religious dress while engaged in the performance of duties as a teacher.” Pennsylvania has a similar law. Oregon’s law was tested in the 1980s, when a Sikh teacher was suspended from her job as a Eugene special-education teacher for wearing a white turban and white clothes to class. The case went to the Oregon Supreme Court, which upheld the suspension. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case. “The underlying policy reflects the unique position that teachers occupy,” said Jake Weigler, spokesman for the state Department of Education. “In this case, the concern that a public school teacher would be imparting religious values to their students outweighs that teacher’s right to free expression.” Sikhs tend to stand out in such cases because the religion requires members to wear turbans, said Hari Nam Singh Khalsa, a Portland attorney who said a judge once told him to remove his “hat” or leave the courtroom. After a discussion in the judge’s chamber, the matter never came up again. Khalsa said he understands that schools present a tricky problem because of the clash between freedom of expression and church-state separation. But, he said, “It’s hard for me to imagine that just because somebody is wearing something that is required by their religion that this is in any way suggestive to students of an endorsement of the religion.” Jolly, the Sikh legal fund representative, has written a letter to Gov. Ted Kulongoski urging a veto of the bill. A spokeswoman for Kulongoski said the governor expects to sign the bill because vetoing it would not change Oregon’s law prohibiting teachers from wearing religious garb. Yet even the bill’s strongest champion, House Speaker Dave Hunt, D-Gladstone, admits it falls short. He said he offered a similar bill in 2007 that would have allowed teachers to wear religious clothing, but it didn’t pass. “I think all Oregon workers should have the right to freely exercise their religion and do their job,” Hunt said. But the bill didn’t have the votes to pass without the exclusion for teachers, he said. “It was one of those legislative compromises you do.” — Harry Esteve; harryesteve@news.oregonian.com http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/07/school_exemption_in_religious.html Daily Oregonian
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.
1. SALDEF Accepting Applications for 2009 Summer Internship Program 2. SALDEF Meets with the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General 3. SALDEF Meets with Congressional Leaders on the Opening of the 111th Congress 4. SALDEF Briefs Senate Democratic Leadership on Sikh American Concerns 5. ON SALE: 2009 Sikh American Pocket Calendars 6. SALDEF Conducts Training for Airport Security Officers in Connecticut 7. SALDEF Participates in Los Angeles Department of Homeland Security Roundtable Meeting 8. College Scholarship opportunity 9. Upcoming Events SALDEF Accepting Applications for 2009 Summer Internship Program The SALDEF Internship Program offers Sikh American youth an opportunity to be uniquely positioned to advocate for national policy issues on behalf of Sikhs. The program educates students on issues including, civil rights, public policy, women’s rights, national security and the legislative process. Interns will gain hands-on experience in community organizing, research, writing, legal issues affecting the community, political action, and educational outreach. Current opportunities available include: Legal, Legislative, Communications and Development internships. Click here for more information. SALDEF Meets with the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General On December 17, 2008 SALDEF Eastern Regional Director Savraj Singh, met with Gurpreet Singh, Chief of Staff of the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General and others, to discuss concerns regarding an increase in hate and bias acts against South Asians. A coalition of organizations spearheaded by Qudsia Raja of SAALT (South Asian Americans Leading Together) pressed the AG’s office to take proactive steps to better report and document incidents of hate crimes, educate law enforcement on South Asian communities, and protect children from bullying and harassment in schools. SALDEF will continue to work diligently on behalf of the Sikh American community in New Jersey. If you believe you have been the victim of a bias attack, please contact SALDEF at legal@saldef.org or 202-393-2700. SALDEF Meets with Congressional Leaders on the Opening of the 111th Congress On January 7, 2009 SALDEF met with Members of Congress and their staff marking the opening on the 111th Congress. The event was a time to meet-and-greet with Members of Congress and their staff to develop and strengthen relationships that will enable SALDEF to further advocate on behalf of the Sikh American community. SALDEF Briefs Senate Democratic Leadership on Sikh American Concerns On January 7, 2009 SALDEF met with the Senate Democratic Leadership and their senior staff to inform them of the national concerns of the Sikh American community. This meeting is part of SALDEF’s ongoing effort to ensure that the Sikh American community has a strong voice in the halls of Congress and is holding our elected officials accountable. Among the issues that SALDEF discussed were, amending of the U.S. Military policy denying Sikh Americans the right to serve in the Armed Services, passing of hate crime and religious freedom legislation, as well as the need for the Senate Leadership to commit to meeting with various members of the religious community in the United States. ON SALE: 2009 Sikh American Pocket Calendars 2009 Pocket Calendars – 2009 In their sixth year of production, the 2009 SALDEF pocket calendars have been fully redesigned to include updated full-color images of Sikh Americans, along with more examples of core Sikh values and facts about Sikhs in the United States. On the back, the calendars have a 2009 calendar in a small, handy, easy-to-use design. The calendars are available in packages of 100 for just $10 plus shipping and handling fees. Order Your 2009 Pocket Calendars Today! SALDEF Conducts Training for Airport Security Officers in Connecticut On January 21, 2009 SALDEF New England Regional Director Navjeet Singh conducted a Sikhism 101 cultural awareness training for Transportation Security Administration officials in Connecticut as part of SALDEF’s Law Enforcement Partnership Program. Over 120 people attended the session including, Transportation Security Officers from Hartford, CT’s Bradley Airport and from Providence, RI’s Green Airport, representatives of the Connecticut State Police, and airport-based ground staff representing United Airlines, Air Canada, and Continental Airlines. Local community leader, and elected school board representative, S. Amarjit Singh Buttar, also attended the training and is working with SALDEF to organize additional presentations in the future. Click here for more information SALDEF Participates in Los Angeles Department Homeland Security Roundtable Meeting On January 27, 2009 SALDEF Volunteer Attorney Anudeep Kaur Singh participated in the quarterly DHS roundtable meeting in Los Angeles. The DHS roundtable was created in 2008 as part of an effort to increase communication between the government and local community organizations. The meeting focused on the progress made as a result of the roundtable meetingin 2008 and goals for the upcoming 2009 year. Some achievements made in 2008 included more religious training for local law enforcement, the Los Angeles youth roundtable, and increased awareness of TSA screening procedures. Goals for 2009 include community outreach at local gurdwaras, a youth national summit, and significantly more training programs for federal officials. Additionally, DHS made several informative presentations at the meeting, including what to expect during the transition period to the Obama administration, as well as information about the new US-VISIT program which requires additional non-US citizens to provide digital fingerprints and a photograph upon entry into the US (more information about US-VISIT can be found at here). College Scholarship Opportunity The National Association for Asian and Pacific American Education (NAAPAE) invites high school seniors, and college juniors and seniors to participate in its scholarship program. In the spring, NAAPAE will award up to two $500 scholarships to high school seniors and up to two $1,000 scholarships to college junior/seniors. The recipients will be students who meet the following qualifications: (A) are of Asian or Pacific Islander (API) descent; (B) are actively involved in extracurricular activities in school; (C) have outstanding academic records; and (D) are young leaders who show concern and commitment to Asian/Pacific Islander communities. Scholarship recipients must be citizens of the United States or Canada or be resident aliens. To apply, click here Upcoming Events * Meeting with Tina Tchen, Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison – Washington, DC March 2, 2008 * Meeting with United States Attorney – District of Columbia – Washington, DC March 5, 2008 * Director of National Intelligence Heritage Community Liaison Meeting – Fairfax, VA March 6, 2009 * Presentation to Columbia Union College – Takoma Park, Maryland March 25, 2009 * National Partner Meeting with the Census Bureau – Washington, DC March 30, 2009 * SALDEF 2009 National Civil Rights Awards Gala – Los Angeles, CA May 2, 2009 * Presentation to Johns Hopkins University – Baltmore, MD May 15, 2009
1. SALDEF Encourages Senate Confirmation of Attorney General Nominee
2. SALDEF Recognized for Work on Behalf of the Sikh American Community
3. SALDEF Accepting Applications for 2009 Internship Program
4. SALDEF Advises Obama/Biden Presidential Transition Team on Civil Rights Concerns
5. SALDEF Meets with Senate Democratic Leadership
6. SALDEF Pressures Justice Department and FBI on New Intrusive Investigative Guidelines
7. SALDEF Participates in Department of Homeland Security Roundtable
8. SALDEF Conducts Cultural Awareness Training for Counterterrorism Agents
9. Bezos Scholars Program at the Aspen Institute Seeks Entries for High School Juniors
SALDEF Encourages Senate Confirmation of Attorney General Nominee Eric Holder
Over the past eight years, SALDEF has been at the forefront of fighting against many of the civil rights and civil liberty abuses that occurred as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. These include the illegal detention of American citizens after the attacks without cause or right to counsel, the torturing of detainees, infringement upon the privacy of Americans, and the politicization of the United States Department of Justice, including the Civil Rights Division.
US Attorney General Nominee Eric Holder has been a steadfast advocate of the United States Constitution and an individual of indelible character. When he was a United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, he started the first Bias Crimes Task Force which established a federal, state, local, and community-based partnership to combat hate crimes and bias in the community. Similar partnerships have been developed in dozens of cities across the United States using this exact model.
SALDEF encourages the United States Senate to confirm US Attorney General Nominee Eric Holder so that he may begin providing independent leadership on many of the difficult policy and management decisions that have plagued the Justice Department for the past eight years.
Please contact your Senator at (202) 224-3121 and encourage them to “Support, without delay, Eric Holder”s confirmation for United States Attorney General.”
SALDEF Recognized for Work on Behalf of Sikh American Community
On December 25, 2008 at the annual Darbar-E-Khalsa in Southern California, celebrating the Gurpurab of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, SALDEF was recognized by the International Institute of Gurmat Studies (IIGS) with their Sikh Rights Advocacy Award. The award was presented to SALDEF at a gathering of thousands of Sikhs from across California and the Western United States, “in appreciation and recognition of distinguished service to the Sikh Community of the USA, by protecting the civil rights of Sikh Americans and fighting against cases of hate crimes and discrimination against them.” SALDEF would like to thank IIGS for this tremendous honor and congratulate them on the success of this annual event.
SALDEF Accepting Applications for 2009 Summer Internship Program
Intern with SALDEF
The SALDEF Internship Program offers Sikh American youth an opportunity to be uniquely positioned to advocate for national policy issues on behalf of Sikhs. 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 educational outreach. Current opportunities available include: Legal Research, Legislative, Communications and Development Interns.
Click here for more information.
SALDEF Advises Obama/Biden Presidential Transition Team on Civil Rights Concerns
December 18, 2008: SALDEF Legal Director Rajdeep Singh Jolly met with transition group members to discuss post 9/11 policy and legislative concerns. The meeting was coordinated by South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) and was attended by representatives of other local and national organizations.
December 17, 2008: SALDEF was the sole Sikh American community representative at the National Asian American and Pacific Islander Leaders meeting to discuss with Transition Advisory Board Members and Senior Staff, the concerns of the Sikh American community. Additionally, SALDEF discussed and delivered its Presidential Transition Memorandum to the Transition Team. A brief summary video on the meeting, which was produced by the Obama/Biden Administration, can be found here.
December 15, 2008 : SALDEF met with Transition Team members to discuss the 2010 Census. SALDEF advocated for a more robust and inclusive outreach efforts to the Sikh and South Asian American communities. The Census is a critical government program that ensures segments of the population are counted correctly. The data provided by the Census can be used to enhance the long term advocacy and political representation of Sikhs in the United States.
December 15, 2008 : SALDEF, the only Sikh American organization advocating for national legislation to combat hate crimes, met with Transition Team members to ensure that national hate crime legislation and combating bias attacks is a top priority for the new Administration. SALDEF was able to confirm that preventing hate crimes and hate crime legislation would be top priorities for the incoming Obama Administration.
December 8, 2008: SALDEF met with the Civil Rights Task Force of the Transition Team on efforts to combat racial profiling of Sikh Americans in a variety of contexts. SALDEF advocated for the Transportation Security Agency to institute ethnic and racial data collection efforts, passage of the End Racial Profiling Act, and amendments to the Justice Department Racial profiling Guidelines and the Mukasey FBI Investigative Guidelines.
SALDEF Meets with Senate Democratic Leadership
On December 16, 2008, SALDEF met with the U.S. Senate Democratic Leadership and Committee members to inform them of the national priorities of the Sikh American community. This meeting is part of SALDEF’s ongoing effort to ensure that the Sikh American community has a strong voice in the halls of Congress and to hold our elected officials accountable to the community. SALDEF discussed U.S. Military policy that denies Sikh Americans the right to serve in the Armed Services, hate crime and religious freedom legislation, and the need for Senate Leadership to commit to meeting with various members of the religious community in the United States on a recurring basis.
SALDEF Pressures Justice Department and FBI on New Intrusive Investigative Guidelines
True to our mission as the only national Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, SALDEF provides a Sikh American voice to many of the critical civil rights challenges our nation faces, including holding the Justice Department accountable when it oversteps its bounds by changing decades of proper investigative techniques.
SALDEF has been engaged in high-level and confidential discussions about the Attorney General Mukasey Guidelines which allowed for increased intrusive investigative techniques for non-criminal behavior. SALDEF worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to review and provide comments to the Domestic Investigative Operations Guidelines (DIOG) and to ensure that civil liberties are protected and the U.S. Constitution is defended.
SALDEF Participates in Homeland Security RoundTable
SALDEF Managing Director Kavneet Singh participated on a panel at the Department of Homeland Security”s Youth Roundtable on November 12, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA. Joining Mr. Singh on the panel was Ms. Fatima Rahmatullah of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. The panel was meant to highlight the role of the Media and Hollywood and the challenges and opportunities it poses for members of the Sikh, Arab, Muslim and South Asian American communities. The panel also discussed examples of positive and negative images in mainstream media, and how youth leaders can work to achieving the ends they would like to see.
SALDEF Conducts Cultural Awareness Training for Counterterrorism Agents
SALDEF-DOJ Partnership
Bezos Scholas Program at the Aspen Institute Seeks Entries for High School Juniors
The Bezos Scholars Program at the Aspen Institute, a collaboration between the Bezos Family Foundation and the Aspen Institute, is designed to bring together twelve of the United States” top high school juniors to engage in seminars and informal meetings with the international leaders, thinkers, and creative artists who participate in the annual Aspen Ideas Festival (June 30 – July 6, 2009).
The program provides the participating juniors with seven-day, all-expense-paid scholarships to attend the festival. An educator from each student”s school also will be awarded a full scholarship, thereby offering a unique leadership development opportunity for students and educators. At the Aspen Ideas Festival, the scholars have opportunities to speak one-on-one with world leaders, global thinkers, and acclaimed entertainers. Past scholars have met with inventor Dean Kamen, Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O”Connor, Her Majesty Queen Noor, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and President Bill Clinton, among others. Following their time in Aspen, the Student Scholar/Educator Scholar teams will return home and apply for $1,000 School Award Grants to use in creating local Ideas Festivals in their schools.
Reauthorization includes increased hate crime data collection provisions Washington, DC – August 1, 2008: The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the oldest and largest Sikh American civil rights organization in the United States, applauds the United States Congress in passing the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008 (H.R 4137). The bill amended and reauthorized the Higher Education Act of 1965, which was intended to increase access to U.S. Colleges and Universities. The original act was part of President Lyndon B. Johnson education platform and, among other actions, increased federal money given to universities, created scholarships, and gave low-interest loans to students. HR 4137, which was overwhelmingly passed by both the House in February and the Senate yesterday, included provisions that SALDEF and a coalition of national organizations have been advocating for over the past several years. In the recently passed bill, the U.S. Congress has included provisions requiring the U.S. Department of Education to collect data on campus hate crime incidents in categories similar to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Click here to see if your Senator voted in favor of this legislation Click here to see if your Congressperson voted in favor of this legislation Unfortunately campuses and universities continue to be a hot-bed of hate- and bias- crime activity, especially in recent years. In strike contrast to the voluntary statistics provided to the FBI Hate Crimes report, HR 4137 can allow for the loss of federal funding to Colleges and Universities who do not comply with the new hate crime reporting requirements. “The Sikh American community has a clear and pressing interest in protecting college students from hate-motivated attacks and bias-incidents,” said SALDEF Managing Director Kavneet Singh. “With better data collection of bias crimes on our nations’ college and university campuses, we will be able to better protect future generations of students on campuses across the country.” SALDEF applauds Congress for passing this vital piece of legislation and urges the Sikh American community to thank their Congressmen and Senators for voting in favor of this legislation.
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.