SB403: End Caste-Discrimination in California

“SB403 is a crucial piece of legislation that will protect vulnerable communities from discrimination and foster a more equitable California. We are proud to stand alongside our coalition partners in advocating for the passage of this historic bill. Caste-based discrimination is especially prevalent in South Asian communities in America, but this bill sets a national example for expanding civil rights and the American values of liberty and justice for all.”

Kiran Kaur Gill, SALDEF Executive Director

Uniting Against Caste Discrimination

SALDEF joins the Californians for Caste Equity Coalition of civil rights organizations, state legislators, and community advocates to celebrate the rapid passage of California State Bill SB403. The anti-caste discrimination bill just passed its final procedural step, with the California Senate casting a successful final concurrence vote. Now, the coalition calls on Governor Newsom to swiftly sign the bill.

 

SB403 seeks to combat caste discrimination and strengthen protections for marginalized communities across the state. State Senator Wahab, the lead author of the bill, joined caste equity civil rights activists and organizations from across the country—including the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) and Equality Labs—in their united effort to promote equality and justice for California’s caste-oppressed community.

 

Stay Up to Date on How We Are Making Civil Rights History:

Countering Mis- and Dis- Information

SALDEF ran digital ads (below) to counteract mis- and dis- information being spread about SB403 in the Yuba City region of California. Over the course of 2 weeks, the ad was viewed about 15,000 times with a 60% completion rate. Versions of the ad included both English and Punjabi to be more accessible to sangat members who were most vulnerable to disinformation.

WASHINGTON, D.C.–  Today, empowering the fight for free speech and against the stifling of Sikh voices, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) took a bold stand by hosting a Social Media Censorship Day of Action on X, formerly known as Twitter. This concerted effort aims to shed light on the censorship faced by Sikh Americans and to demand accountability from the current leadership of X. Today also is Indian Independence Day. 

SALDEF’s Social Media Censorship Day of Action served as a platform to address the grave issue of censorship that has marginalized Sikh voices. The event included an earnest plea for a response from X’s present leadership and insights from SALDEF’s new and comprehensive 2023 Dissent Across ‘Democracies’ censorship report.

The panel discussion featured: 

  • Jyot Singh, Policy Manager at SALDEF
  • Jas Singh, Founding Member of The Sikh Net (United Kingdom)
  • Hardeep Singh, freelance journalist and Deputy Director of the Sikh Messenger (United Kingdom)
  • Jasveer Singh, Senior Press Officer for the Sikh Press Association 

Notably, the candid admission by Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter, on a 2023 YouTube show, wherein he revealed the Indian government’s overt threats to Twitter, underscores the perilous erosion of democratic values within a nation that prides itself as the world’s largest democracy.

“The Indian government’s global social media disinformation campaign and manipulation of profit-driven social media firms have severely constrained the Sikh diaspora’s online freedom of speech. This suppression repeatedly manifested in recent years as censorship faced by Sikh Americans who attempted to engage in honest discussions about the 2020-21 farmers’ protests, advocated for justice amid the state’s manhunt of a Sikh activist in 2023, and continue to truthfully highlight broader human rights concerns in India,” said Jyot Singh, Policy Manager at SALDEF.

Public critics of the Indian government, including global Sikh activists, endure targeted online harassment. SALDEF’s extensive research has captured firsthand accounts of individuals receiving hate-filled emails and direct messages on significant Sikh holidays or memorial dates. This hostility often seeps from their dedicated Sikh-focused pages to their personal profiles and even businesses, resulting in unwarranted review bombings that endanger livelihoods. Censored journalists and activists were a part of the panel.

 

[QUOTES FROM OTHER SPEAKERS]

SALDEF’s resolute response to this urgent issue is reflected in its 2023 Dissent Across ‘Democracies’ censorship report. The report presents well-founded recommendations aimed at empowering platforms to withstand manipulation and safeguard democratic values. Among these recommendations are strategies like geofencing antiterrorism requests, cultivating alliances with advocates for marginalized communities, partnering with democracy-oriented nonprofits, and fostering resilience in the face of challenges.

“This is an important report on an extremely serious subject which indeed has global ramifications. SALDEF must be commended for their continuous and comprehensive efforts in highlighting such sinister incursions on free speech, not least because of the interference with that very inalienable right, now impacting diasporic communities – as has been observed on prominent social media platforms, like the one formerly known as Twitter. Let’s hope policy makers, community organizations and companies take its thoughtful recommendations seriously, and implement steps to act upon them,” said Hardeep Singh, freelance journalist and Deputy Director of the Sikh Messenger.

“Twitter has been absolutely appalling when it comes to engaging on issues that impact the Sikh community which stem from censorship and fall into misinformation and beyond that,” said Jasveer Singh, Senior Press Officer for the Sikh Press Association.

“Personally, Sikh Press Association probably sent a dozen different emails over the course of six months with our account running freely on Twitter and we were just being completely ignored,” said Jasveer Singh, Senior Press Officer for the Sikh Press Association.

“It was ironic because Meta had us down as an organization that they wanted to engage with in terms of discussion and opening up and getting feedback into the Sikh community and I said, ‘That’s fine, but you’ve already banned us from your platform’,” said Jas Singh, Sikh Activist and Founder of The Sikh Network (UK)

“I saw Jack Dorsey’s message where he openly admitted that India forced Twitter to take action against accounts posting about the Farmers’ Protests or else they’ll shut down Twitter’s offices in the country. But, he presided over Twitter and did nothing. To admit it afterwards, and then pass the books to Elon Musk and blame him is a huge failure for Twitter’s leadership,” said Jas Singh, Sikh Activist and Founder of The Sikh Network (UK)

To read SALDEF’s full 2023 Dissent Across ‘Democracies’ censorship report, please visit https://saldef.org/sikhcensorship/.

 

About SALDEF:

SALDEF is a national Sikh American advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. focused on building leadership and capacity in the Sikh American community.

Our mission is to empower Sikh Americans by building dialogue, deepening understanding, promoting civic and political participation, and upholding social justice and religious freedom for all Americans.

We are grounded in our values of optimism (chardi kala), humility (nimrata) and service (seva), inspired by the community (sangat) for the benefit of all (sarbat da bhalla). We envision a United States where Sikh Americans are recognized as a vibrant and integral part of the fabric of this nation and are respected for our shared values of service, social justice, and an unshakeable belief in freedom and equality for all.

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SALDEF Executive Director to Highlight Sikh Activism at the Largest Global Gathering of Interfaith Leaders

We are excited to announce the participation of SALDEF Executive Director, Kiran Kaur Gill in the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions from August 14-18 in Chicago, IL.

The 2023 Parliament convening is the most important and largest gathering of the world’s religious and spiritual leaders and practitioners, activists, and organizers uniting in a collective, courageous, and clear reply to the most dangerous crisis confronting us today–authoritarianism.

As the leader of the oldest Sikh advocacy organization in the United States, Kiran Kaur Gill has a proven track record of working to promote understanding and tolerance between different faiths.

The listed sessions at the Parliament (photo on right) will be an opportunity to share her insights on how we can build a more just and equitable world for all people.

The Parliament of the World’s Religions is a unique opportunity for people of all faiths to come together and build bridges of understanding. To view full event details, please visit https://parliamentofreligions.org/2023-program/.

SikhLEAD Interns Host Langar on the Hill to Promote Sikh Values

Nearly 150 people, including members of Congress, attended the annual Langar hosted by the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)’s SikhLEAD Internship class and the office of Rep. Chuck Schumer, on Capitol Hill on July 26.

Langar is a 500-year old Sikh tradition that aims to eradicate segregation and classicism and promote food justice. Among the members of Congress who attended the event included Representative Judy Chu (CA-28) and Representative Shri Thanedar (MI-13).

Speaking on the occasion, SALDEF Executive Director Kiran Kaur Gill explained the importance of Langar in the context of the Sikh American experience.

“Sikh Americans have a long history of innovative community engagement and leadership, from the Honorable Dalip Singh Saund who was one of our great pioneers in Congress, to the advocates at SALDEF. Having the occasion to share a meal as equals is a strong reminder about the values of equality and universal friendship.”

While Sikh Americans have a 125-year history in the United States, there are still a lot of misperceptions about the community. Langar on the Hill is a significant opportunity for us to introduce our American history and Sikh values, including equality for all. Moreover, it is a unique opportunity for this rising generation to express to our nation’s leaders how we intend to deepen our civic participation.

We’d like to take the time to thank the volunteers and all our supporters across the nation who donated to this event and contributed to its success.

(Washington, DC) — The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) is deeply disappointed with President Biden’s decision to celebrate Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a state visit, and with Congressional leaders’ accompanying decision to honor PM Modi with an address to a joint session of Congress.

 

“We, alongside advocates for other Indian diasporic minorities undergoing intensely antidemocratic censorship, discrimination, and extrajudicial violence, are disheartened to see PM Modi receive the highest honors our federal government can bestow on a head of state,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of SALDEF. “As extensively documented by civil society, the US Commission for International Religious Freedom, and increasingly the State Department, the Modi regime is an appropriate designee of Country of Particular Concern status under the International Religious Freedom Act due to its widespread and escalating human rights violations. In this context, we feel deep disappointment that the administration and members of Congress have elected to turn a blind eye and to uncritically celebrate an autocratic regime in the name of geopolitics.”

 

From banning BBC documentaries about Modi’s career to raiding Western media offices in India to forcing social media platforms to comply with censorship demands, the Indian state demonstrates extraordinary commitment to pursuing its autocratic agenda globally.

 

“We are deeply appreciative of those in Congress who are opposing these decisions to overlook and minimize the struggle of communities like ours, and look forward to supporting their actions to demonstrate solidarity,” continued Gill.

Like many Sikh Americans, Tej Dhingra knows how it feels to not have his background fully understood. He was born and raised in Texas, where Sikhs make up only .05% of the state population. After noticing a lack of alternatives for turbans when it came to athletic sportswear, Tej decided to create his own solution.

Currently a sophomore at Bowdoin College, Tej is the founder of TAJ, which creates lightweight, breathable turbans designed for physical activity. Over the summer, Tej was accepted into the SALDEF Innovation Fellows program, where he was able to continue building TAJ with the support of a large Sikh network. 

The Innovation Fellows program provides the opportunity for aspiring Sikh American entrepreneurs to develop professionally through the exposure and evaluation of breakthrough technologies emerging out of federal laboratories and academic research centers. Fellows were given the opportunity to pitch their startups at the 2022 SikhLEAD Innovation Startup Competition. 

TAJ, which means “crown” in Punjabi, was selected as the winner of this competition. 

Turbans are a significant article of the Sikh faith. It represents equality, self-respect, and commitment to their religion: most visibly, long and uncut hair which observant Sikh men and some women wrap in a turban. Although he does not personally wear a turban, Tej has heard his Sikh peers and family members complain about the overheating and excessive sweating that turbans cause while exercising. 

“Sports meant everything to me as a child and it still occupies a huge role in my life,” said Tej, who grew up playing competitive tennis year-round. “The court is a safe space that gives me peace, confidence, and the ability to express myself in a unique way. So, the motivation behind TAJ was pretty simple. I wanted to create a product that allowed Sikh athletes to feel confident in their hair, and that didn’t force them to sacrifice comfort for their religious expression.”

Tej leveraged the Innovation Fellows Program to bring his idea to fruition. A major draw of the program for him was the mentorship that participants received. 

“The most valuable piece of advice I received was that before jumping to develop a solution or product, you need to first become obsessed with the problem itself, and analyze it from all angles.” 

Tej acted on this advice by conducting ‘customer insight interviews’ with dozens of Sikh athletes, college students, hair scientists, designers, and leaders in the smart-fabric industry. 

“Each conversation I had not only gave me a deeper insight into the emotional significance that turbans hold but also challenged assumptions I had previously held regarding the major pain points for Sikhs. This allowed me to tweak my strategy as I transitioned into prototype development.” 

The new and improved rendition of the product features a 100% polyester base and an elastic, spandex-like band to ensure a snug fit for the wearer. In his pitch, Tej also discussed incorporating anti-microbial elements such as copper to combat the bacteria that typically build up underneath the turban cloth.

Now, as an aspiring business leader, Tej hopes to continue channeling his passion for both sports and entrepreneurship to empower the Sikh community.

“The sports industry fascinates me, and I think there is definitely a rising demand for innovation centered around increasing diversity in sports. That is why I’m so excited to continue working on TAJ and hopefully raise awareness towards the Sikh American community in the process.”

(Washington, DC) – SALDEF is deeply concerned about the ongoing situation in Punjab, including reports about the suspension of internet services and restrictions on the social media accounts of non-government-aligned reporters, organizations, and members of the public in India and throughout the world.

The Sikh American community stands with the global sangat expressing their concerns about limitations on the rights of reporters, human rights, and free expression in India. Free expression is a cornerstone of an engaged and active democracy.

As demonstrated in SALDEF’s report on global censorship of our community during the 2020-21 Punjab Farmers’ Protest, “When #Sikh Was Banned Worldwide,” the Indian government has a record of using similar tactics to limit the voice of the Sikh community in India and around the globe.

SALDEF is connecting with the Biden Administration to share concerns. We encourage you to contact your public officials and the media to raise awareness and encourage them to speak out on the ongoing situation.  There are many ways you can help join the fight:

Background Information on the History of Censorship:

As outlined in our Censorship Report and by numerous human rights organizations, including ENSAAF and Amnesty International, the Indian government has a history of using repressive tactics to stifle protest and oppose dissent. These include:

  • Shutting down internet access in regions of the country
  • Restricting access to social media accounts and ordering take-down notices to tech companies, including the accounts of journalists, activists, and elected officials from around the world
  • Arrests and detention of activists, lawyers, and human rights organizers
  • Limiting the freedom of assembly and the freedom of the press

For many Sikhs in the diaspora, the current tactics of the Indian and state governments echo the experiences of minority communities across India. They remind people of traumas they and their families experienced in Punjab during the 1970s through the 1990s. These concerns have been heightened due to the actions taken during and in response to the Farmer’s Protests of 2020-2021.

SALDEF Investigates Decrease in Reported Anti-Sikh Incidents in Updated FBI Hate Crime Data

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 16, 2023
Contact: Jyot Singh | Research and Policy Manager | jyot.singh@saldef.org

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released an updated 2021 national hate crime report, documenting 185 incidents of anti-Sikh hate crimes. While the vast majority of targeted groups saw an increase that corrected for the underreporting in the first release, the Sikh community  had 30 fewer incidents reported in the updated statistics, down from 214.

“We are gravely concerned that, in a side-by-side comparison of the original and updated hate crime data which corrects for underreporting, every non-Christian religious group saw an increase in reported incidents–except Sikh Americans. We are reaching out to the Department of Justice and other agencies to understand why correcting for underreporting resulted in 30 incidents of anti-Sikh hate disappearing,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF). “While 185 incidents is still extremely significant, we are working to understand why our community–which has historically high bias and hate incidents per capita year-over-year–has been the only one with such a significant reduction.” 

The original 2021 hate crime report released in December 2022 did not include data from at least 22% of law enforcement agencies across the country, including those in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Phoenix (all areas with significant Sikh populations). This new dataset intends to fill those gaps in data, and overall does show significantly higher numbers of incidents across the board.

“The updated data to correct for underreporting reflect a 13.6% decrease in the reported number of anti-Sikh hate crimes. We are alarmed by this discrepancy, and we look forward to  conversations to determine the exact cause of this and to prevent erasure of our community in future federal hate crimes data,” continued Gill.

Governor Signs Bill Requiring Educators to Provide Anti-Bullying Materials

Sikh Americans in California commend Governor Jerry Brown, who recently signed a historic bill to counter school bullying. The Safe Place to Learn Act will now protect Sikh, Muslim, and other students when they are harassed in schools.

The legislation (AB 2845) will require the California Department of Education to assess whether schools adequately provide information to educators and community members regarding students who are subject to discrimination and bullying based on actual or perceived religious affiliation.

“When we reached out to Sikh Americans in California to contact their elected officials, they responded,” said SALDEF Executive Director Deepinder Singh. “We’ll use the momentum from this legislative victory to continue expanding our work so every student can achieve their full potential without fear of harassment.”

AB 2845 was introduced by Assemblymember Das Williams. SALDEF advocated for its passage as part of a diverse coalition that includes Asian Americans Advancing Justice – California, Council on American-Islamic Relations, California Chapter, and the Sikh Coalition.

The bill also requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to post anti-bullying resources related to affiliation or perceived affiliation with any religion, nationality, race, or ethnicity on its website.

If you have any questions about bullying and harassment in schools, please email info@saldef.org or call our national office at 202-393-2700. Thank You

SALDEF Appoints Professional with Nonprofit, Academic and Military experience

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Deepinder Singh—an accomplished academic, nonprofit trail-blazer, and U.S. Army veteran—was recently chosen to lead the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) into its third decade. Most recently, Deepinder served as Director for the Center for Catholic Studies and Interfaith Dialogue and a full-time faculty member in the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department at Madonna University in Michigan. “Deepinder stood out among a number of impressive candidates during our search because of the depth and breadth of his experience,” said SALDEF Board Chair Manjit Singh (no relation), who serves on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. “We are thrilled that Deepinder will be leading SALDEF into its third decade so we can continue developing innovative programs to create a more inclusive society.” “I am honored and privileged to join an organization with such a phenomenal record of empowering the Sikh Americans–and, indeed–all Americans,” said Deepinder. “All the volunteers, board members, and staff during the last two decades have created the ideal conditions to make the organization even more impactful.” Deepinder Singh succeeds Jasjit Singh (no relation), who immediately followed his seven-year tenure at SALDEF by becoming a Senior Policy Advisor at the White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships in Washington, DC earlier this year. Deepinder Singh’s bio appears below. He is available for TV, print, and web interviews. — Deepinder Singh has played an important role in academics, advancement, policy research and implementation in the roles of professor, academic administrator and director for numerous centers in the fields of academics and nonprofit, civil-rights advocacy. Deepinder comes to us from Madonna University in Michigan, where he was concurrently Director for the Center for Catholic Studies and Interfaith Dialogue while serving as a full-time faculty member in the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department. Deepinder has a B.A. in history and philosophy and a Masters in philosophy from Western Michigan University. His doctoral dissertation and research is in political philosophy. Deepinder has presented his research at academic conferences, held workshops at major research institutions, and has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards. Outside of academics, Deepinder is a United States Army Veteran and has served honorably in numerous areas of conflict. He is from Chelsea, Michigan. -End-