Sikh American Organization More Active on French Ban, Hate Crimes and Education Issues Washington, DC – Over the last several days, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), the oldest national Sikh American civil rights organization, has increased its legislative efforts at state and federal levels. SMART’s efforts have included securing signatures to a congressional letter regarding the French ban on religious articles of faith, organizing the invocation at the Virginia State Senate and testifying at the Maryland General Assembly regarding hate crimes legislation. “The efforts of our staff and volunteers over the last several days helps demonstrate that more Sikh Americans are energized and involved at all levels of government,” said SMART National Director Preetmohan Singh. “We look forward to expanding our efforts so that our community is even more engaged in legislative efforts and civil society.” During the last week, SMART staff and volunteers contacted several members of the U.S. House of Representatives to urge them to sign on to a letter to the French government expressing concern about the possible ban of religious articles of faith, including the Sikh turban, in public schools. The letter, initiated by Congressmen Mike Honda (D-CA) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), was signed by over 45 members of the US House of Representatives. SMART worked collaboratively in this effort with a number of groups including the American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sikh Coalition, United Sikhs, and Voices for Freedom. On Wednesday, February 11 a SMART representative will testify at the Maryland General Assembly tomorrow in support of amending the hate crime provisions in the state of Maryland. The revised legislation would expand the prohibition against damaging property of places of worship, which currently includes only churches or synagogues, to include any place of worship. The bill would also expand the protected categories of the existing Maryland hate crimes law to ensure that all individuals targeted by hate violence are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Finally, last week, SMART helped organize Sikhs in the Washington, DC metro region to attend the Sikh prayer offered as invocation prior to the convening of the Virginia State Senate on February 3. The traditional opening prayer, conducted in Punjabi and English, was organized in partnership with the Guru Nanak Foundation of Hampton Roads, VA. The prayer was preceded by a breakfast for elected officials prepared by the Sikh community of Richmond, VA. Several elected officials attended the breakfast and were joined by approximately 25 members of the Sikh community in Virginia state capital building. SMART thanks the management of Guru Nanak Foundation, the local Richmond Sikh community and especially Mrs. Jagdish Singh for their efforts in making this a successful event. According to Mr. Singh, “The prayer and breakfast were successful in exposing elected officials and non-Sikhs to the presence of the Sikh American community in Virginia and we are committed to expanding these proactive efforts.”
SMART Increases Legislative Activity at State, Federal Level
Sikh Organization Mentioned Prominently during Consideration Washington, DC – During the floor consideration of a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives condemning bigotry and violence against Sikh Americans and other groups affected by post-9/11 backlash, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART) was commended for its work on hate crimes education and prevention. In his address on the floor of the United States House of Representatives, Representative Joseph Crowley (D-NY), stated, “During July, I held a Congressional briefing as the Co-Chair of the Caucus on India and Indian Americans about the rise of hate crimes against South Asians. A representative of Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART) attended this briefing and spoke with Members of Congress on the importance of educating people so they understand the culture and will be less likely to participate in a hate crime. I commend SMART’s efforts to work not only the Sikh community but with all communities affected by hate crimes.” Furthermore, SMART’s President, Manjit Singh, met with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi yesterday to discuss issues affecting the Sikh American and other South Asian communities. He discussed the continued problem of hate crimes and employment related discrimination against Sikh Americans, along with Americans from and perceived to be from the Middle-East, in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack. For instance, in the 15 months between September 11th and December 11, 2002, the EEOC received 705 complaints. Mr. Singh also brought attention to the increasing reports of racial profiling of Sikhs and other minorities by law enforcement under the guise of “national security” using the USA PATRIOT Act. He urged the House Democratic leadership to address these issues by supporting the Workplace Religious Freedom Act, designed to ensure that employers will accommodate the religious practices of their employees, and the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act. In response to the House passing the resolution H.234, condemning bigotry and violence against Sikh Americans and other groups, Singh stated, “This resolution strongly condemns hate-motivated violence and will inform all Americans about these insidious acts of violence. We now call upon Congress to take the next step and enact the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act. This legislation, now pending before both houses of Congress, would enable the U.S. Department of Justice to assist local investigation and prosecution of bias-motivated incidents in certain cases.” SMART extends its gratitude to Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA), the sponsor of this House resolution, and thanks Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY) and Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) for their statements of support urging their colleagues to pass the resolution. In July, SMART wrote to Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House, urging him to schedule floor action on the measure. SMART worked with Senators and their constituents to pass a similar resolution by the US Senate in May.
Panelist Discusses Recent Incidents, Community Outreach and Prevention Washington, DC – Earlier this week, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national Sikh civil rights organization, conducted a congressional briefing about hate crime and effective strategies for outreach and prevention. The briefing, entitled “Violence Against South Asians since 9/11”, took place on Capitol Hill August 23 and was sponsored by the offices of Representatives Joseph Crowley (D-NY) and Joe Wilson (R-SC). Preetmohan Singh, SMART’s National Director, stated that since 9/11 the Sikh American community has experienced over 400 hate crimes, including verbal and physical threats, aggravated assaults, and shootings. Amnesty International recently reported that only one of nine hate crimes is reported in the United States. Experts state that reporting in the South Asian community is even lower primarily due to the lack of access, language barriers and immigration status issues. As recently as July 5, Gurpreet Singh, a Sikh cab driver in Richmond, CA, was shot and killed when attempting to pick his fare. Although local law enforcement officials have yet to determine if race bias was a motive, Mr. Singh stated that in the absence of such a declaration, many in the Sikh community assume a hate crime, as on May 19, when Avtar Singh Chiera was shot in Phoenix, AZ, by assailants who shouted “Go back to were you belong.” Mr. Singh stressed that in addition to affecting the family and the individual, these incidents generate fear and anxiety in the Sikh community because these incidents are based on real or perceived religion or national origin. Mr. Singh shared SMART’s community education and outreach efforts to stress the importance of reporting bias and hate motivated incidents, and to take active measures in prevention. Some of the steps SMART and the Sikh American community have taken in the post-9/11 period include encouraging the community to increase its civic participation, increasing awareness about themselves among their neighbors, co-workers and collaborating with law enforcement to disseminate information about Sikh Americans. SMART also discussed the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (S. 966), legislation that further empowers law enforcement to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. A representative of the South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow (SAALT) also made comments and engaged in discussion with House Staff.
WASHINGTON, DC – The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national Sikh civil rights organization, is encouraging Gurdwaras across the United States to sign a joint letter on behalf of the religious community to Congress in support of hate crimes prevention legislation. SMART is enlisting the Sikh American community’s support to send the message that hate crimes should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The nation’s religious community is being brought together by various interfaith organizations to gather signatures of America’s religious leaders in support of passage of S.966, the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (LLEEA), and its House companion bill, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Current law permits federal prosecution of a crime as a hate crime only if the act was motivated by bias based on race, religion, national origin, or ethnicity, and the assailant intended to prevent the victim from exercising a federally protected right. If this legislation is enacted, it would expand federal jurisdiction to include a broader set of bias categories. Second, the legislation would increase funds and support from federal law enforcement in the prosecution and investigation of hate crimes. Such action would enhance vigilance and effectiveness in the response to hate crimes. SMART requests Gurdwara leaders to sign the enclosed letter urging passage of this important legislation, and to help gather as many signatures as possible from other Gurdwaras. Signatories to the letter (attached below) should provide the following information: – Name – Gurdwara – City, State – Telephone Please give a copy of this advisory to your local gurdwara management and encourage them to sign-on. ### SAMPLE LETTER ### Dear Senator/Representative, We the undersigned religious leaders, from the Sikh faith tradition in XX state write you to urge swift passage of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2003(S.966), without any weakening to the amendments. In the troubling times after September 11th, the Sikh American community in particular has faced a twofold threat. Just as any American post-September 11th, Sikh Americans have had to live with the anxiety and apprehension of future terrorist attacks. However, in addition, Sikh Americans are living everyday with the fear of hate crimes being committed against members and institutions of their own community. The first fatality in the September 11th backlash was, in fact, a Sikh American gas station operator in Mesa, AZ. Thus, we must make it clear that neither hate nor violence is a traditional American value; both are antithetical to democracy and true spirituality. Though legislation cannot remove hate from the hearts and minds of individuals, hate crime prevention legislation can help to create a society that is unbending in its intolerance of hate-motivated violence. As you know, current law permits federal prosecution of a hate crime only if the crime was motivated by bias based on race, religion, national origin, or ethnicity, and the assailant intended to prevent the victim from exercising a “federally protected right.” The LLEEA would expand federal jurisdiction to include a broader set of bias categories. The law would also empower federal prosecutors to act in concert with local police and provide funding to these officials to assist with investigations. A broader federal law will also help make up for the inadequacy and absence of inclusive hate crime laws in many states and municipalities. To those who would oppose this hate crime legislation in the name of religion, we state categorically: everyone in this society should enjoy the strongest possible guarantee of freedom from attacks motivated by bigotry. Bigotry cloaked in religion is neither a moral right nor a religious value. The sacred Xures of many different religious traditions speak with dramatic unanimity on the subject of intolerance. If we aspire to be true to the prophetic core of our religions, we cannot condemn hate and then sit idly by while it destroys our communities. We believe that religion and government must work together to create a society in which diverse people are safe as well as free. We urge you to support the enactment of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act. Sincerely,
The congressional offices of Representatives Joe Crowley and Joe Wilson, Co-Chairs of the Caucus on India and Indian Americans, will sponsor a briefing on Violence Against South Asians since 9-11. The briefing will discuss the brutality and frequency of hate crimes, along with South Asian community’s response to these incidents since September 11, 2001. A representative of the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), the leading national Sikh American civil rights organization, will address House staff about its public education efforts, coalition-building, and hate crimes legislation. A representative of the South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow (SAALT) will also make comments and engage in discussion with House Staff. WHAT: A briefing on Violence Against South Asians since 9-11. WHEN: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 10:30 – 11:30 am WHERE: 2255 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20510 CONTACT: Preetmohan Singh info@sikhmediawatch.org 202-393-2700, ext. 27
Germantown, MD – The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), A national Sikh American civil rights advocacy group calls on all Sikh Americans to participate in a national letter writing and telephone campaign protesting Louisiana Representative John Cooksey’s comments insulting Americans who wear turbans and promoting racial profiling. “If I see someone (who) comes in that’s got a diaper on his head and a fan belt wrapped around the diaper on his head, that guy needs to be pulled over,” said Congressman Cooksey, a Republican member from Louisiana who sits on the International Relations Subcommittee for the Middle East and South Asia. After his comments another Sikh man died and a young Sikh boy was shot at while driving in Maryland. Although the Congressman has made an apology saying he was targeting Osama Bin Laden, he has not apologized to the 500,000 Sikh Americans in the United States and continues to support racial profiling. “We are very disappointed by the congressman’s unpatriotic behavior. In a time like this, when the president has indicated that all Americans should stand together, we find it very sad that he is trying to divide us,” said SMART’s Executive Director, Manjit Singh. “Such remarks only further the goals of the terrorists, which is to weaken this diverse country of ours. We wish he would get in line with his own administration and President’s thinking on this issue. We sincerely hope that he will be disciplined by his party.” SMART urges all Sikh Americans to act by calling Congressman Cooksey’s office at 202-225-8490 (use talking points provided below), fax (202-225)-5639, e-mail (http://www.house.gov/cooksey) or send a letter (a sample letter is provided below) to 113 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. — END — TALKING POINTS 1. As a Sikh American, I am outraged by Congressman Cooksey’s remarks. 2. In a country where our leaders have asked us to stand united as a nation and have strongly condemned violent hate crimes, why is the Congressman not acting with the President, Attorney General and other civic leaders across the nation. 3. Isn’t the Congressman afraid that his comments are fanning the flames of hatred around this nation, encouraging people to commit illegal acts, and distracting the FBI from pursuing terrorists? 4. I would encourage the Congressman to issue a public apology to Sikh Americans who wear turbans for religious reasons, which he referred to in his remarks as a “diaper”. —– SAMPLE LETTER Dear Representative Cooksey: I am writing to you as an outraged member of the Sikh American community. Your remarks on Monday September 17 in a radio address, calling our turbans which are a mandated religious article of faith, a “diaper”, risks inciting more violence in America against our community, just as leaders in your own party have spoken out against violence and hate crimes targeted towards Sikh, Muslim and Arab Americans. President Bush, Attorney General Ashcroft, Mayors, Governors and Members of Congress across the nation have denounced racism that has caused violent attacks against minority communities in this country. As Americans we are deeply offended not only by your insensitive comments, but also by your rebel stance, diving our nation in turmoil. Our national leaders, have also spoken out against racial profiling, a principle you have promoted in radio addresses and presentation lately. We would like to ask you if you supported profiling all Americans who looked like Timothy McVeigh after the tragic attack in Oklahoma City. If not, why not? Do you think we should lose our civil rights because the color of our skin? Through your recent statements, you have further strengthened and empowered an ignorant portion of our country that confuses Sikh Americans with terrorists like Osama Bin Laden. Sikhs do not culturally, religiously, or politically affiliate themselves with Osama Bin Laden or any other terrorist regimes. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world with over 22 million followers. There are approximately 500,000 Sikh in the United States today. We have been serving our country for over 100 years and have been trying to help with the relief efforts taking place across the nation. As Americans we will not tolerate your remarks and would like to encourage you to issue a public apology for your ignorant statements and stand united with your own party leaders. We will also be willing to educate you and your staff further about Sikhism through educational materials available through the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a Washington, DC based national Sikh civil rights advocacy group. Information is available online at www.sikhmediawatch.org, or you may contact SMART via e-mail at info@sikhmediawatch.org or call its toll-free number 877-91-SIKHS (877-917-4547). Thank you for your time and cooperation. We look forward to hearing your formal apology. Sincerely, Concerned Sikh American