Senator Dick Durbin to be Honored at SALDEF Gala

Senator Dick Durbin to be Honored at SALDEF National Gala

Join us at the SALDEF National Gala in Washington, DC on Saturday, October 8, 2011. Along with marking our fifteenth anniversary, we will commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11, honor our awardees, and enjoy cultural entertainment. We are pleased to announce that Senator Dick Durbin will be recognized for his leadership in Congress by sponsoring bills that protect the rights of Sikh Americans. Senator Dick Durbin, is the senior U.S. Senator from the State of Illinois and serves as the Assistant Majority Leader of the Senate, the second highest ranking position in the Senate. Senator Durbin is the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights and the Appropriations Committee’s Financial Services and General Government subcommittee. Senator Durbin is known as a champion of civil rights for all people. Immediately following 9/11, Senator Durbin introduced the Hate Crimes Resolution, condemning the hatred and violence targeted at Sikh Americans. Senator Durbin was also a primary supporter of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act which strengthened the existing hate crime laws. In addition, Senator Durbin also sponsors the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, both of which aim to strengthen efforts to prevent school bullying in primary and secondary education settings.

Join us in honoring Senator Durbin and others who have worked to protect the rights of  all Americans.

For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

SALDEF Submits Testimony on Sikh American Challenges and Stands for Civil Rights of All

Washington, DC, March 28, 2011: Tomorrow, Tuesday March 29, 2011, the Senate Judiciary Committee – Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights will conduct the first-ever Congressional hearing on the civil rights of Muslim Americans. Because of the serious effects anti-Muslim hate has on Sikh Americans and the similar challenges both communities face, SALDEF was asked to submit a statement for the record on behalf of the Sikh American community for the hearing. The hearing, announced and chaired by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), is in response to the recent increase in anti-Muslim bigotry, including Quran burnings, hate crimes, hate speech, and other forms of discrimination. The hearing will consider measures to protect this community’s civil rights in light of the aforementioned issues. The hearing is open to the public and will be held at 10 AM EST in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. The hearing will also be broadcast live and can be watched here. SALDEF welcomes this hearing and is pleased that the Sikh American experience will be included as part of written testimony. This hearing is especially relevant given the hearing held on March 10, 2011 by the Committee on Homeland Security by the U.S. House of Representatives on alleged domestic radicalization of Muslim Americans, which unfairly singled out the Muslim American community for scrutiny. As Sikhs, it is our duty to unwaveringly stand for the rights of all. Reflecting on the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji demands that our community defend the civil and human rights of everyone, ensuring that no one community is unfairly targeted. Furthermore, the hostile environment being created for Muslim Americans contributes to many of the problems Sikh Americans are currently facing, such as school bullying and harassment, employment discrimination, and hate crimes. We believe in the importance of standing in solidarity with our fellow Americans, as well as ensuring the issues of the Sikh American community are heard by our nation’s lawmakers.

•    SALDEF Hosts Job Fair in Boston •    Meeting with US Assistant Attorney General •    Congressional Reception for Asian American Politicians •    Lobbying for WRFA on Capitol Hill •    New TSA Policy •    New Form for Green Card •    SSA Spotlight: UCLA holds Sikh Awareness Day SALDEF Hosts Government Job Fair in Boston On May 15th, SALDEF Board Member Navjeet Singh and local volunteer Jaswant Singh Chani collaborated with the Guru Ram Das Ashram in Boston, Massachusetts to hold a Job Fair focusing on federal jobs for the local Sikh Community. Among the agencies present at the Fair was the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  Additionally, Maura Healey, a representative of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Civil Rights Division discussed how to address discrimination during the employment process and how to appropriately document instances and file complaints. If you would like to hold a similar job fair or Know Your Rights Forum for your local sangat, please contact SALDEF. Meeting with US Assistant Attorney General

AAG Thomas Perez

On May 4th, SALDEF met with Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez.  He is the head of the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice. SALDEF raised concerns about laws which prevent observant Sikh Americans from pursuing careers in certain states.  Additionally, SALDEF provided recommendations for how the Department can better address the challenges of post 9/11 affected communities.  Mr. Perez reaffirmed his and the Department’s commitment to combating discrimination.  He also congratulated the community for overturning the ban on religious grab in Oregon public schools.

Rep. Mike Honda (CA)

Congressional Reception for Asian American Politicians On May 12, SALDEF attended a reception at the Capitol Building for the members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.  The event honored Asian American Congressmen and leading APA activists.  At one point during the event, California Congressman Mike Honda, acknowledged the Sikh American community from the stage with a “Sat Sri Akal”! He went on to explain some of the challenges the Sikh community faces and even encouraged the crowd to “go to your local Gurdwara” and make a Sikh friend. Lobbying for Religious Freedom in the Workplace On May 25, SALDEF Associate Director Jasjit Singh and Legislative Intern Dilroop Kaur met with Congressman Dan Burton’s staff to lobby for the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (WRFA). If passed, WRFA will positively impact the Sikh American community by strengthening the laws which allow for religious expression in the workplace. The visit was arranged by the Sikh Coalition and included a member of the Interfaith Alliance as well.  SALDEF has been engaged since 2004 working on this important piece of legislation. To read a blog entry about this visit, please click here. To read about past engagement with this bill and SALDEF please click below: •    Religious Freedom Bill Discussed in Congress •    SALDEF Conducts Congressional Visits on Religious Freedoms Legislation •    SALDEF Conducts Congressional Briefing on WRFA •    The Sikh American Voice in Congress TSA Introduces ‘Secure Flight’ Policy The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced the implementation of the Secure Flight Program to improve passenger travel experience, and most notably to better handle issues of misidentification. When making airline reservations, passengers will now be asked for their full name, date of birth, and gender. This information will be sent to ‘Secure Flight’ by the airline to be used in watch list matching. The matching results will be sent back to the airline. Thus, those individuals who have names which may be similar to individuals on the No Fly list or the Selectee List for enhanced screening can be cleared before a boarding pass is printed. According to the TSA, the program will decrease cases of misidentified individuals, provide early identification of matches so that law enforcement and threat management may take proper measures, and reduce chances of compromised watch list data by centralizing it at Secure Flight. For more information on Secure Flight, visit http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/index.shtm#content. USCIS Green Card Update U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on June 14 that a new version of  the Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Form I-90), more commonly known as the “Green Card” is available on the USCIS website.  The new version of the form is dated 8/10/09 and contains more user-friendly features. The form can be found in PDF form here or by visiting http://www.uscis.gov/. SSA Spotlight: UCLA Holds Sikh Awareness Day On May 10, UCLA’s Sikh Student Association held its Annual Sikh Awareness Day on campus. The day included entertainment from local artists, demonstration of gatka (Sikh martial arts), and langar (community meal). Congratulations to the UCLA SSA for hosting a great event. If we can assist your SSA in any way – by providing speakers, materials, etc – please contact SALDEF.

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

Congressman Dan Burton

Hurrying along the white marble halls of the House Office building, we passed an extravagant fountain as well as a number of carved oak doors with columns prodigiously perched on either side. I couldn’t help but worry about the tax-payers money. That thought was quickly forgotten as Jasjit and I saw a familiar face among the impressive surroundings. Sikh Coalition’s Rajdeep Singh Jolly awaited us by Congressman Dan Burton’s office. We were here to lobby for the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (WRFA). Lobbying is similar to a sports game. There is a game plan, there are key players and the end goal is to win. The only difference is the outcome will affect millions of Americans. So there we stood outside the big oak doors, SALDEF and Sikh Coalition, huddled in our team circle preparing to go out and win it. Gaining Congressman Burton’s vote on the bill was equivalent to a field goal, his sponsoring and agreeing to lead WRFA was more of a touchdown. 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)

Attended a reception at the Capitol Building today for the members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. It was an opportunity to meet Congressmen and leading Asian American activists who are making a difference in Washington. The highlight of the event (for us) was when California Congressman Mike Honda, the Caucus Chairman, acknowledged us from the stage with a “Sat Sri Akal”! He went on to explain some of the challenges our community faces and even encouraged the crowd to “go to your local Gurdwara” and make a Sikh friend. Glad we had a Sikh in the room.

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 U.S. Attorney General Eric HolderOn 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