SALDEF working with FBI to increase service recruitment and retention within Sikh American Community Washington D.C. – May 25, 2007 – This past Sunday, May 20, 2007, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nations oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, co-sponsored an event with the Sikh Foundation of Virginia (SFV) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to increase recruitment of Sikh Americans into the Bureau. For the past several months, SALDEF has been advocating on behalf of the community for concerted efforts to increase the recruitment of Sikh Americans into the FBI. In meetings with National FBI Headquarters, FBI Washington Field Office, and the FBI’s Personnel Recruiting Unit (PRU), Bureau representatives have told SALDEF that Sikh American youth and young professionals, including those who possess Punjabi language skills, are highly desirable to the FBI. Speaking at the event were: Rajbir Singh Datta – Associate Director, SALDEF; Harjit Singh Chawla – Board Chairman, Sikh Foundation of Virginia; Gwendolyn Hubbard – Division Chief, FBI Personnel Resources Unit; Joseph Persichini – Assistant Director, FBI Washington field Office, Sunjeet Singh – Sikh FBI Analyst The purpose of this pilot event was to engage with the community and gauge the effectiveness of a possible national intitiative between SALDEF and the PRU to increase recruitment and retention of Sikh Americans into the FBI as special agents and professional support staff. “SALDEF is working closely with the FBI and other federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security to encourage active recruitment efforts withing the Sikh American community,” stated SALDEF Managing Director Kavneet Singh. “We urge Sikhs from across the country to collaborate with SALDEF to organize similar events in their local communities to explore opportunities with federal agencies.” Additionally, SALDEF is working with the Washington Field Office of the FBI and a number of Arab and Muslim organizations on a Future Agents in Training (FTI) program to recruit a total of fifteen high school students, aged 16 – 18, to participate in a week long event in Quantico, VA at the FBI Training Academy. This pilot program, if successful, has the potential to expand nationally and provide Sikh American youth with the unique opportunity to learn more about the FBI and its career options with an on-hands approach. If you would like to organize a similar event in your local community, please contact SALDEF at 202-393-2700 ext 27 or by email.
SALDEF, FBI and Sikh Foundation of Virginia Co-sponsor Recruiting Event in Virginia
JOLIET, Ill. — Illinois’ Joliet Police Department is in hot water for the recent assault of a Sikh American by one of its police officers. The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund is seeking an immediate probe into the attack, calling it racially motivated and xenophobic. Kuldip Singh Nag, a decorated U.S. Navy veteran, was accosted by the police officer in his home for an expired vehicle registration tag. An altercation ensued and the officer assaulted Nag with his pepper spray and baton while saying anti-immigrant statements. “We are horrified at the anti-immigrant sentiment the officer allegedly used as he violently accosted Mr. Nag, and further that his 6-year-old son was a witness to this violent assault. We call upon both Joliet and Illinois officials to investigate this incident and for the Illinois community to stand in solidarity with Mr. Nag,” said SALDEF managing director Kavneet Singh.
GROUP SEEKS PROBE April 13, 2007 By BRIAN STANLEY Staff Writer JOLIET — A man says a police officer used excessive force and racial epithets while arresting him last month. The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) e-mailed a press release Thursday asking for an investigation into the March 30 incident. Joliet police Cmdr. Keith Turney said Thursday the department had not been contacted by the representatives of the man arrested, Kuldip Nag, 49, or SALDEF. “We have not received any complaint,” Turney said. “The first we learned of this was from the media.” Around 3 p.m. March 30, police responded to “an anonymous citizen complaint” regarding a vehicle parked on Nag’s driveway at 3574 Buck Ave. An unidentified officer spoke with Nag’s wife, Vera, about the van’s expired plates and learned the vehicle was inoperable. “The officer put a seven-day tow notice on the vehicle when he was approached by Mr. Nag, who questioned why he was putting a sticker on a vehicle in his driveway,” Turney said. “The vehicle was in public sight and there is a city ordinance against (parking inoperable vehicles),” he said. “Mr. Nag was upset the officer was on his private property telling him to move a vehicle he owned,” said SALDEF spokesman Rajbir Singh Datta. Both police reports and SALDEF’s release indicate a struggle followed between Nag and the police officer. Police say Nag pushed the officer and was subdued with pepper spray. SALDEF contends Nag did not touch the officer before he was sprayed. “As Mr. Nag screamed in agony, the officer removed his baton and violently struck Mr. Nag numerous times until he fell to the ground,” SALDEF’s release said. “While the assault ensued, the officer was reported by both Mr. and Mrs. Nag as saying, ‘You (expletive) Arab! You (expletive) immigrant, go back to your (expletive) country before I kill you.'” Turney said reports do not indicate the officer made these statements and that he was requesting backup during the struggle. He ceased struggling with Nag before other officers arrived. Datta said Vera Nag photographed her husband’s arrest. “She was so shocked and stunned at the officer’s behavior she went into the house and got a camera just inside the door,” Datta said. Nag was arrested on charges of aggravated battery to a police officer and resisting a police officer. As he was being booked at the police station, he complained of pain and was taken to Silver Cross Hospital. “Nag stayed for five days due to complaints of intense pain and head trauma,” SALDEF’s statement said. He “also received numerous bruises and a serious head injury which have caused him to go blind for several minutes at a time.” Nag was booked into the county jail following his release from the hospital April 3 and released on bond the next day. “He spoke to a community member who advised him to contact us,” Datta said. Datta said a letter detailing the incident and asking for an investigation was sent to the police department earlier this week. Datta said Thursday another letter would be sent after police said they had not received the first one. Reporter Brian Stanley can be reached at (815) 729-6079 or bstanley@scn1.com [http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/index.html] Joliet Herald News
SALDEF calls for immediate probe into assault and the xenophobic, anti-immigrant statements by police officer against bronze star recipient Washington D.C., April 11, 2007 — The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization in the country, today called upon the Joliet Police Department to investigate the actions of one of its officers when patrolling a local neighborhood. On Friday March 30, 2007 at around 3:00pm, Mr. Kuldip Singh Nag, a Sikh American who was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in the U.S. Navy during the first Gulf War, was at his home in Joliet, IL when a local police officer noticed that a van parked on Mr. Nag’s private property had expired registration tags. Upon being confronted with this, Mr. Nag’s wife, Vera Kaur Nag, informed the officer that the van is parked on their driveway and was inoperable. Mr. Nag then came outside to answer the officer’s questions regarding the van. The Joliet police officer then demanded that Mr. Nag park the van inside his garage and not on the driveway, to which Mr. Nag responded to the officer that it was not possible and that regardless, the van is parked on his private property and he has a right to park it on his driveway. At this moment, the officer pulled out his pepper spray and attacked Mr. Nag. As Mr. Nag screamed in agony, the officer removed his baton and violently struck Mr. Nag numerous times until he fell to the ground. While the assault ensued, the officer was reported by both Mr. and Mrs. Nag as saying, “You f****** Arab! You f***** immigrant, go back to you f****** country before I kill you!” Mr. Nag’s wife and six year-old child both witnessed the violent assault, which resulted in Mr. Nag immediately being admitted to the hospital where he stayed for five days due to complaints of intense pain and head trauma. Mr. Nag also received numerous bruises and a serious head injury which have caused him to go blind for several minutes at a time “This case seems to be a clear incident of police misconduct in Illinois,” said SALDEF Managing Director Kavneet Singh. “We are horrified at the anti-immigrant sentiment the officer allegedly used as he violently accosted Mr. Nag, and further that his six year old son was a witness to this violent assault. We call upon both Joliet and Illinois officials to investigate this incident and for the Illinois community to stand in solidarity with Mr. Nag.” SALDEF has garnered the strong support of the Illinois Sikh American community and is currently working with The Chawla Group Ltd to represent Mr. Nag in a criminal case brought on by the City of Joliet.
(CBS13) YUBA CITY, Calif. If you want to be a police cadet you must shave your beard. That’s what one Sikh man was told in Yuba City. “They said the beard would not be allowed, no ifs and or buts,” said Uppal. A lesson in religious tolerance is playing out in Yuba city after 19-year-old Harvir Singh Uppal was initially told he would have to shave his beard if he wanted to be a police department cadet. “I was not given any reason and that was my last contact with the YCPD,” said Uppal. The Yuba City area is home to a growing Sikh community — and the controversy quickly spread because wearing a turban and beard is required religious clothing. After a civil rights organization in Washington D.C. heard about the case, they sent this letter to the police chief demanding he change his position. “If anything it’s all just a misunderstanding,” said Richard Doscher, YCPD police chief. Doscher says it was an officer, the director of the cadet program, who made the comment and it’s not department policy. The chief has since apologized to the organization and Uppal. At this point Uppal says he’s now too busy being a full-time student to re-apply with the department. But he has not ruled out a career in law enforcement. The civil rights organization is now applauding the chief’s commitment to the Sikh community and hopes other law enforcement agencies follow suite. (© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) [http://cbs13.com/topstories/local_story_068013917.html] CBS13 Sacramento
SALDEF works with city officials to defend the rights of the Sikh American student Washington D.C. – March 7, 2007: The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, received a formal letter of apology from Yuba City Police Chief Robert Doscher for denying employment to Mr. Harvir Singh Uppal as he sought to become a police cadet. Mr. Uppal, a 19 year old student and adherent of the Sikh faith, was interviewed by Officer Kim Slade, Director of the Yuba City Police Department Cadet Program, for a position as a cadet. A week later, Mr. Uppal contacted Officer Slade to check the status of his application at which time he was informed upon conferring with the Chief of Police and the City Attorney that, “though the turban was acceptable, the beard does not conform to the uniform standards of the police department and it would have to be shaved off”. SALDEF contacted Yuba City Police Chief Doscher and Mayor John Miller informing them of the discriminatory nature of this policy and recommended the necessary steps to remedy the situation quickly and to the satisfaction of Mr. Uppal. In a letter of apology to SALDEF, Chief Doscher noted, “We [Yuba City Police Department] have no policy which precludes an employee of the Sikh faith from wearing a turban or beard (or possession of a kirpan) during their employment with us.” He added, “Please accept this as an unintentional oversight by one of my staff officers, which I take responsibility for. I can assure you that as of this writing, there is no misunderstanding any longer.” SALDEF thanks Yuba City Police Chief Robert Doscher for his immediate attention to this matter and reaffirming his department’s policy of encouraging religious diversity. SALDEF urges police departments across the nation to follow Chief Doscher’s example of welcoming individuals of faith to serve their communities without having to compromise their religious practices. Additionally, SALDEF commends the courage of Mr. Harvir Singh Uppal for asserting his rights as an American citizen. . If you, or anyone you know, believe they have been the victim of workplace or employment discrimination, please report it on our website or contact SALDEF immediately at 202-393-2700 or info@saldef.org.
Highlights need for increased outreach to Sikh American community and cultural competency training for FBI agents Washington D.C. – February 27, 2007: Yesterday, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest national Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, met with Federal Bureau of Investigation Director, Robert S Mueller III. SALDEF, the sole Sikh American organization represented at the meeting, spoke to Director Mueller specifically about the importance of continued efforts to increase dialogue and communication amongst the leadership of America’s largest investigative and law enforcement agency and the Sikh American community. SALDEF also proposed the adoption and formalization of Sikh American Cultural Awareness and Protocol Training for each of their new recruits at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA and through local field offices across the country. “The benefits of incorporating SALDEF’s cultural competency training in the FBI’s training program will empower the FBI’s new recruits and current agents with the appropriate information about cultural practices of Sikh Americans in an effort to better utilize FBI resources,” stated SALDEF Chairman and Co-Founder Manjit Singh. “Such training will help in eliminating an incorrect, though, common perception of Sikh Americans as suspicious solely based on misunderstandings of their physical identity as a Sikh.” Director Mueller expressed his support for this initiative and cited this as a appropriate time to introduce it to the training curriculum for FBI agents, as the training period is being extended from eighteen to twenty-one weeks. Over the past 10 years, SALDEF’s Law Enforcement Partnership Program, has trained over 25,000 law enforcement officials across the Nation. With its emphasis on non-emergency and non-crisis situations, the training program is used to provide law enforcement officials with the appropriate tools necessary to serve the Sikh American community at-large. Additionally, SALDEF spoke about the need to continue outreach by the FBI to the Sikh American community as well increase efforts to recruit agents and analysts from the Sikh American community. To view a few examples of SALDEF’s previous meetings and collaborations with high-ranking government officials and federal law enforcement, please click here: Department of Justice and SALDEF Release New Law Enforcement Roll Call Training Video (1/19/2007) SALDEF and Department of Homeland Security Release Poster About Sikh Kirpan (11/21/2006) SALDEF Meets with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff (4/29/2005) SALDEF Meets with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales (4/15/05)
Training video to increase awareness among law enforcement officers about Sikh American cultural practices Washington DC, January 19, 2007 – This past Wednesday, January 17, 2006, the Community Relations Service (CRS) of the Department of Justice in partnership with the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the largest and oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, released a first of its kind police roll call training video titled, On Common Ground – Sikh American Cultural Awareness for Law Enforcement. The ground breaking 17-minute training video was developed by SALDEF for the Community Relations Service and released at an event attended by over 150 members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies as well as prominent members of the civil rights and Sikh American community. Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, there has been a sharp increase in the number of hate incidents and hate crimes against Sikh Americans of South Asian decent. These attacks have been primarily due to the lack of awareness and the common misconception that Sikh Americans are either from the Middle East, Arab or Muslim. Speaking in absentia, United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez noted, “The film is designed to educate law enforcement working in non-emergency circumstances about cultural norms of Sikh Americans. It 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.” The training video will be distributed to federal, state and local law enforcement officials across the country. The educational film includes detailed information about the cultural practices and articles of the Sikh faith which are commonly unfamiliar to law enforcement. The protocols for the respectful handling of the articles of faith recommended in the training video are designed with officer safety in mind and are to be followed only in a non-emergency, non-crisis situation. “This video is a product of continued successful collaboration between SALDEF and the Community Relations Service and the pioneering vision of Director Sharee Freeman,” said SALDEF President Mirin Kaur Phool. “Director Freeman has worked tirelessly after September 11, 2001 to ensure that the American public is aware of the Sikh American community.” Additionally, at the event, Director Freeman also announced her plans to step down as the Director of U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service. During her five year tenure, CRS has been a leader in the government’s effort to build and sustain community partnerships within racial and ethnic communities across the nation. On behalf of SALDEF and the entire Sikh American community we thank Director Freeman for her esteemed public service and dedication to supporting the voice of minority groups across the United States. SALDEF would like to especially recognize Sandeep Singh of Marketwise Communications, the director and production manager of this ground breaking educational film. His involvement and unflinching dedication were instrumental in the production of this high quality educational film. SALDEF also extends thanks to all the volunteers and the staff of CRS for their assistance with the organizing of this event. Over the past several years, SALDEF has successfully collaborated with government agencies to produce material that informs law enforcement about Sikh American culture and articles of faith with the objective of ensuring a positive interaction between Sikh Americans and law enforcement personnel including most notably:
- In December 2004, SALDEF collaborated with the U.S. Department of Justice to publish a poster entitled, Common Sikh American Head Coverings. The purpose of the poster is to provide law enforcement with basic information about the various types of head coverings worn by Sikh men and women.
- In November 2006, SALDEF partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to release a poster entitled, Sikh Americans and the Kirpan. The poster seeks to create awareness about the Kirpan (religious sword) and recommends protocols on its appropriate handling.
The video will be available for viewing and download in Mid-February. Please visit www.saldef.org for information on the video and its distribution.
Washington, D.C. November 21, 2006– Yesterday, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) released a poster explaining the Sikh Kirpan, produced in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The poster, entitled Sikh Americans and the Kirpan, provides a brief introduction to the Kirpan, a Sikh article of faith, and security recommendations for law enforcement officials when they come in contact with a Kirpan. The Kirpan poster was formally unveiled in a joint SALDEF – DHS roll out event yesterday at the National Gurdwara in Washington, D.C. The Kirpan, a religious sword, which serves as a constant reminder to a Sikh’s duty to uphold justice, has often caused law enforcement officials across the country much confusion. This poster, a product of extensive collaboration between DHS and SALDEF, will be used to inform thousands of federal law enforcement officers and security screeners about the religious significance of the Kirpan to Sikhs. Speaking during the event, Daniel Sutherland, Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at DHS commended SALDEF for its efforts in producing the poster. Mr. Sutherland stated: “We recognize the need to balance homeland security requirements with the ability of you as a Sikh to practice your faith. This poster is a tool to increase awareness about the Kirpan and enhance learning and understanding of your culture.” “This poster is one part of an ongoing effort by SALDEF to change the way law enforcement in the United States view the Kirpan.” said SALDEF co-founder and Board Chairman Manjit Singh. “The increased awareness about the Kirpan among federal law enforcement officials will help in the appropriate handling and ensure a positive interaction between Sikh Americans and Federal law enforcement personnel.” 
Dean Hunter, Director of the Federal Protective Service, the main DHS agency which sponsored the poster, stated, “this is a win-win situation resulting from our partnership with SALDEF to develop the Kirpan poster. The poster will be distributed to 8,700 federal facilities across the country.” The Office of Federal Protective Service (FPS) is a branch of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is responsible for the security of several thousand owned and leased Federal buildings, facilities, properties and other federal assets. The FPS is a force of 2,000 federal police officers which provides security police services to U.S. Federal buildings and other properties. Including the Federal Protective Services (FPS), other agencies part of the three-year-old Department of Homeland Security include Transportation Security Agency (TSA), Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), US Coast Guard and the Secret Service to name a few. SALDEF similarly collaborated with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2004 on a project to produce a poster entitled Common Sikh American Head Coverings. The purpose of that poster was to provide local, state and federal law enforcement officials with basic information about the Sikh faith, the significance of the Daastar (turban), and provide recommendations on handling the Daastar when interacting with Sikh Americans. Over the past decade, SALDEF has achieved similar landmark accomplishments and successes for the Sikh American community. Since 1996 SALDEF has continuously increased collaboration with government officials and civic leaders. This poster is a prime example and byproduct of the dedicated and continued efforts of the past decade of seva (service) to the Sikh American community. We hope to continue this work for another decade, but can only do so with your generous support. Through your recurring financial support you can play a direct role in creating awareness about the Sikh identity among non-Sikhs, protect Sikhs from experiencing harassment while visiting a national park, being denied access to a courtroom to defend themselves as guaranteed them by the U.S. Constitution, or being a victim of hate crimes or workplace discrimination, and working with the oldest Sikh American civil rights organization in the country to further support and empower the Sikh American community. You can make your donation online in a few easy steps by clicking here. The DHS Kirpan Poster is available on SALDEF’s website at www.saldef.info. A partial list of media coverage of this event is listed below: Washington Post; A Pointed Reminder for Security Screeners, November 21, 2006 (Link no longer available) Daily News & Analysis: Kirpans get respect at US Airports, November 21, 2006 Poster Urges Screeners to Respect Sikh Sword
Poster to reach over 40,000 federal law enforcement officials; will significantly increase awareness of Kirpan, a Sikh article of faith Washington, D.C., November 15, 2006 – Next Monday, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) will be unveiling a a poster explaining the Sikh Kirpan produced in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The poster is entitled Sikh Americans and the Kirpan and provides a brief introduction to the Sikh faith, the Sikh article of faith the Kirpan, and security recommendations for law enforcement officials when they come in contact with a Kirpan. The Kirpan, a religious sword, which serves as a constant reminder to a Sikh’s duty to uphold justice, has often caused law enforcement officials much confusion across the country. This poster, a product of an extensive collaboration between DHS and SALDEF, will be used to inform thousands of federal law enforcement officers and security screeners about the religious significance of the Kirpan to Sikhs. The poster will be sent to hundreds of offices under DHS including, the Federal Protective Services (FPS), Transportation Security Agency (TSA), Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement (ICE) and the Secret Service to name a few. “This venture is one part of an ongoing effort by SALDEF to change the way individuals in the United States view the Kirpan.” said SALDEF co-founder and Board Chairman Manjit Singh. “We must continue partnering with law enforcement and government officials at all levels to ensure their further understanding of our Sikh practices.” SALDEF similarly collaborated with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2004 on a project to produce a poster entitled Common Sikh American Head Coverings. The purpose of that poster was to provide local, state and federal law enforcement officials with basic information about the Sikh faith, the significance of the Daastar (turban), and provide recommendations on handling the Daastar when interacting with Sikh Americans. The Kirpan poster will be a formally unveiled in a joint SALDEF – DHS Press Conference on November 20, 2006 at the National Gurdwara (details below). Individuals scheduled to speak include: Dean Hunter, Acting Director of the Federal Protective Services Daniel Sutherland, Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Department of Homeland Security Satwant Kaur Bell, President, National Gurdwara Manjit Singh, Chairman, SALDEF Unveiling of Kirpan Poster National Gurdwara 3801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC Monday November 20, 2006 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Members of the mainstream and ethnic media will be in attendance. SALDEF encourages the Washington, DC-area Sikh American community to attend and show their support for continued collaboration and partnership between the Sikh American community and the Federal Government. The poster will be available at www.saldef.org for review and download after the unveiling.