2010 – The Year In Review

Protecting the Sikh ID In Georgia, a Sikh boy was told he would have to remove his patka before he could take his State ID picture. His father was told that he would not be able to wear his turban when he renewed his license. SALDEF intervened and the Georgia Department of Driver Services apologized and agreed to have their staff trained by SALDEF. We have worked on similar issues in Oklahoma, Minnesota, Michigan, Nevada, and California. Fighting Employment Discrimination Surjit Singh Saund of North Carolina was told that he could not open a convenience store because of his turban and beard. Inderjit Singh of Indianapolis was told he could not work at an airport for the same reason. SALDEF connected Mr. Saund and Mr. Singh with our partners at Public Justice and both have filed a law suit to ensure Sikhs don’t have to make a false choice between their religion and their livelihood. Monitoring New Forms of Media Bias Over the summer, we completed an analysis of Facebook and discovered a concerning trend. Fourty-five anti-Sikh or anti-turban pages are currently reaching a combined audience of over three million individuals. SALDEF has launched a campaign to close down these pages and address the spread of misinformation. Protecting the Right to Teach In April of this year, SALDEF and a broad coalition of interfaith partners succeeded in overturning an Oregon law banning public school teachers from wearing articles of faith while in the classroom. Strengthening Partnership with Law Enforcement This year we made presentations for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, and local police departments around the country. As a result of our continued engagement, we have secured open invitations from eight police departments inviting Sikh Americans to join their ranks. Keeping Politicians Accountable This summer, when state Senator Jake Knotts referred to South Carolina Gubernatorial Candidate Nikki Haley as a ‘raghead,’ SALDEF contacted his office to demand the Senator issue an apology for his remarks.

Policy of Discrimination Reversed: Sikh American Child Allowed to Enroll In Texas Public School

SALDEF in collaboration with the Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) has succeeded in overturning a long-standing policy of discrimination against religious headgear in the Brazosport Independent School District in Texas. The case has allowed a Sikh American fourth grader to enter school and also resulted in a revision of the District”s school dress code.

Earlier this year, Gundeep Singh’s parents attempted to enroll him in Gladys Polk Elementary School in Clute, TX. The enrollment proceeded until a school official saw Gundeep with his patka, a religiously mandated head covering. At that point, the Singh family was told that Gundeep would not be able to wear a patka nor keep his uncut hair at the school because it was in violation of the school”s “no hats” policy and the district’s dress code policy regarding hair length for boys. They were then referred to Deputy Superintendent of the school district, Mr. Dennis McNaughten, who advised the family to enroll Gundeep in another school.

“The school”s policy prevented its students from practicing their religion freely, which is in direct violation of the United States Constitution and the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” said SALDEF Managing Director Kavneet Singh. “Regrettably we still see such incidents across the country of Sikh Americans being refused access to public schools, denied employment, and being subjected to hate crimes, primarily due to their distinct identity.”

TCRP and SALDEF acted immediately by issuing a letter to the district to contest the school”s position and demand that Gundeep be allowed to enroll. Additionally, TCRP and SALDEF urged the District to revise their school dress code polices to include safeguards for individuals of various faiths and to conduct a training seminar to ensure administrators across the district would be better informed about the religious practices of Sikh American children, as well as more fully understand the issues they face, specifically with regards to bullying and harassment.

Within a few days, Gundeep Singh was admitted into Gladys Polk Elementary. The school district also adopted revisions suggested by SALDEF to their “no hat” policy and the existing standard for hair length for boys. These revisions will ensure that students of various faiths who hold religious beliefs will be able to “keep hair long or uncut, or wear religious headwear or clothing.”

“We’re glad we stood up for our rights and that our son can go back to school,” said Gundeep”s father Jarnail Singh. “We are so thankful to TCRP and SALDEF for their assistance and support of our son and family.”

SALDEF would like to sincerely thank Wayne Krause and his team at the Texas Civil Rights Project for their invaluable leadership in this case, as well as our colleagues at the Sikh Coalition for their initial backing in this matter.

SALDEF would also like to encourage all Sikh Americans to ensure that their rights are not violated. If you or anyone in your family experiences a similar incident or any denial of access due to your articles of faith, please contact SALDEF immediate either or call us toll free at 877.917.4547.

Ensuring that Law Enforcement is educated about Sikh Americans is critical. These men and women are responsible for our safety, they investigate crimes against us, and they are charged with the difficult task of quickly identifying suspicious or threatening behavior.  Recognizing the need to partner with this group, SALDEF launched its Law Enforcement Partnership Program (LEPP) in 1999, and over the past 11 years has trained or distributed materials to over 100,000 local, state and federal Law Enforcement Officials. Under the auspices of this program, SALDEF has partnered with the Department of Justice to produce a first of its kind training video about Sikh Americans for Law Enforcement.  The video, called On Common Ground, was shown to all 45,000 Transportation Security Officials in 2008 and has since been included in the Transportation Security Administration’s mandatory training curriculum for all new security officers. Over the past few months, SALDEF has provided educational cultural competency presentations in a number of areas across the country: Maryland On May 25, SALDEF held a Sikh Awareness Training for a dozen officers at the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD). The training was well received and the Department has scheduled a future training for their new class of recruits and will potentially use SALDEF to train each new recruit class.  Additionally, the MCPD will be visiting a local Gurdwara to learn more about Sikh practices and meet the local sangat. North Carolina On June 11, SALDEF Board Member Kavneet Singh conducted a presentation in Charlotte, NC titled Sikhism 101: An Introduction to Sikh Beliefs and Culture for Law Enforcement. The training was organized by the U.S. Department of Justice – Community Relations Service who SALDEF has partnered with extensively over the past decade. The agencies in attendance included: •    Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) •    U.S. Attorney’s Office •    Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) •    North Carolina Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) •    University of North Carolina, Charlotte (UNCC) •    Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department •    Gastonia Police Department, Davidson Police •    Pineville Police Department San Francisco On June 16, SALDEF was invited by the Captain of the San Francisco Police Academy to conduct a training on Sikh Americans. This was the first in a series of trainings with the Department which will hopefully lead to a long-term partnership and mandatory Sikh Awareness training for all cadets and officers in the SFPD. The topic of the training was to highlight specific areas of interest to law enforcement when they may come in contact with Sikh Americans, be it on patrol, at the Gurdwara, or at the home of a Sikh American. The efforts above add to the growing list of significant training endeavors taken on by SALDEF. Past accomplishments have included: •    Training the entire Boston Police Department •   Training the entire Washington DC Metro Police Department •    Performed Training at Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) It is only through your generous support that SALDEF is able to continue to build partnerships with the Law Enforcement community. Please take a few moments and DONATE to SALDEF today with either a recurring monthly donation or one-time donation. Your contribution helps us create a more fostering environment for the next generation of Sikh Americans.

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

SALDEF Regional Offices Spearhead Education Activities Washington, DC – October 17, 2008: Over the past several months, regional offices of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, have been organizing and spearheading efforts to educate non-Sikhs about Sikhism and to inform Sikhs about their rights in the United States. To continue and expand these efforts, we need your support TODAY! Your monthly donation will go a long way in ensuring the work to educate our neighbors, elected officials and community members keeps going strong. Camp Gian 2008 California: Los Angeles – SALDEF Western Regional Director Kavneet Singh and volunteer JaspreetSingh Sethi presented SALDEF’s bullying awareness presentation to roughly 80 Sikh children at the 10th Annual Camp Gian. The two 55-minute, interactive sessions engaged campers and encouraged them to remain confident in themselves while reaching out to parents and teachers for help. By understanding past incidents of school harassment, the children learned to recognize bullying, understood its origins, and identified appropriate action to take when bullying occurs. Rajdeep at Panel on Towelhead Hollywood – After SALDEF’s engagement with Warner Bros regarding the film ‘Towelhead,’ we have been moving swiftly to develop long-term relationships with producers, directors, actors, and studio executives to increase the number of Sikh Americans in the film industry. San Jose Gurdwara San Jose Just last week, SALDEF and the San Jose Gurdwara assisted in the rehabilitation of four youth assailants after multiple vandal attacks against a Sikh American family. Massachusetts: Boston – After continued engagement with local law enforcement across the state, SALDEF Regional Director Navjeet Singh convinced the Massachusetts State Police to issue the first-of-its-kind online training module to educate all 3,000 officers on Sikhism across the State. This follows another achievement when Navjeet and six volunteers, completed a year long campaign training all 3,000 officers Boston Police Department officers on Sikhism. Texas: Houston – For the past few years, SALDEF Regional Director Bobby Singh has been conducting quarterly Sikhism presentations for 40-50 new cadets at the Houston Police Department. New Jersey: SALDEF Regional Director Savraj Singh Dhanjal recently completed a bullying and harassment presentation for over 50 Sikh youths in New Jersey. The presentation (watch the abbreviated version) is designed to inform youth on what to do when faced with a bully and to increase their confidence. Oregon: SALDEF Regional Director Sat Hanuman Singh Khalsa has been spearheading ground-breaking training activities within TSA, local law enforcement, state police, and local legal experts on Sikhism and the challenge of Sikh Americans. His efforts have led government officials and schools to dramatically increase their desire to learn more about the community. With all of our national engagement and education efforts, the aforementioned local efforts are critical to the success of the Sikh American community. We must understand and reach our fellow Americans on the street in order to make a change in how Sikhs are perceived and treated. However, to continue our ground breaking efforts, we need your support TODAY! A monthly donation of just $25, $50 or $100 will help expand our education efforts to businesses, reach more schools and Gurdwaras, and train the next generation of Sikh youth leaders to engage their communities. To learn more about our Education Activities, please contact SALDEF at education@saldef.org Please distribute this widely to family, friends and at the local Gurdwara

Department of Justice Adds SALDEF Sikh Cultural Awareness Training to Community Relations Service (CRS) Website

SALDEF has played a leading role in improving the understanding of Sikh American religious and cultural practices among law enforcement and government agencies nationwide.

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), SALDEF developed On Common Ground: Sikh American Cultural Competency Training for Law Enforcement, a training video designed to reduce bias, prevent misunderstandings, and strengthen relationships between Sikh communities and public institutions.

Launched: January 2007

Reach: Viewed by more than 65,000 law enforcement officials in the United States

Adoption: Used by all TSA screeners at U.S. airports

Global Impact: Requested by law enforcement agencies in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, India, and Brazil

Federal Recognition: Hosted by the DOJ’s Community Relations Service (CRS)

Click Here to View On Commond Ground Video

This work builds on SALDEF’s broader Educational Outreach efforts with federal agencies, including:

  • DOJ Collaboration (2004): Common Sikh American Head Coverings — a poster educating local, state, and federal officials on Sikh articles of faith, including the dastaar (turban), and best practices for respectful engagement.
  • DHS Collaboration (2006): Sikh Americans and the Kirpan — guidance developed with the Department of Homeland Security to promote awareness and ensure appropriate interactions between Sikh Americans and federal law enforcement.

Director of DOJ-CRS, Ondray T Harris remarked, “On Common Ground serves as a valuable tool in educating law enforcement officials, airport personnel, and various communities across the United States on the cultural and religious practices associated with Sikhism. Awareness of cultural and religious observations can help avoid misunderstanding and tension. Towards this goal, On Common Ground can assist the public in understanding the challenges and realizing the contributions of the Sikh community in the United States. Former CRS Director Sharee Freeman, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), and other local, state, and federal agencies are to be commended for their extraordinary efforts in making On Common Ground possible.”

Together, these initiatives demonstrate SALDEF’s long-standing commitment to proactive education, institutional accountability, and protecting the civil rights and dignity of Sikh Americans through partnership and policy-informed outreach.

Washington, DC— A poster explaining Sikh head-coverings was recently produced in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF).  The poster is entitled Common Sikh American Head Coverings and provides a brief introduction to the Sikh religion and protocol to follow security screening by law enforcement officials. “[The posters] represent the Department of Justice’s continued efforts to educate government officials about the practices and beliefs of vulnerable minorities,” wrote Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, R. Alexander Acosta, in a letter to SALDEF.  “Not only does this lead to greater understanding, but it also helps our officers do their jobs better.  Thank you for your assistance in developing these posters and bringing this project to fruition.” The full-color, glossy posters are 24 inches long and 18 inches wide.  They were produced following SALDEF’s regular participation in meetings with Assistant Attorney General Acosta’s working group about post-9/11 issues.  The DOJ has produced 10,000 copies of the posters, which will be distributed to local, state and federal law enforcement officials. “We are extremely pleased that the DOJ not only took the initiative to produce these posters but will be distributing them to law enforcement officials across the country,” said SALDEF National Director Preetmohan Singh. “Our Law Enforcement Partnership Program has trained thousands of first-responders and this will reinforce information for some and provide a straight-forward introduction for others.” To view a copy of the poster, please click here.

The U.S. State Department recently invited SMART President Manjit Singh to address participants of their International Visitor Program. The program entitled, “Managing Diversity in a Multi-Ethnic Society,” was designed to expose participants to the contributions and challenges of immigrants in the U.S. by examining policies on immigration, refugees and citizenship, and America’s cultural diversity. This year, several government officials, academics, and journalists from Europe were invited to tour the United States. Mr. Singh spoke about SMART’s efforts in the areas of protecting civil rights, encouraging political involvement, and participating in legislative efforts affecting the Sikh American Community. He was joined by panelists from the Arab American Institute (AAI) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), who also discussed political empowerment of minorities. The International Visitor Program is administered by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The emphasis of the program is to increase mutual understanding through communication at the personal and professional levels. Participants are established or potential foreign leaders in government, politics, media, education, science, labor relations, and other key fields. Over the years, hundreds of former participants under the International Visitor Program have risen to important positions in their countries. Among the alumni are over 160 current and former chiefs of state or heads of government and more than 600 are cabinet-level ministers.

On June 6th, SMART’s Western Regional Director delivered its Sikhism 101: An Introduction to Sikh Beliefs and Culture presentation to members of the Our Brother Congregational Church in Fremont, CA. Members of the congregation attended the presentation which was followed by over one hour of questions and discussion. Tentative plans were also made to take the congregants to a local Gurdwara to show a standard Sikh divaan (congregation). If you, or someone you now would like to conduct a similar presentation in your neighborhood, please contact SMART.

Before the end of the school year, SMART’s National Director Preetmohan Singh addressed the Sikh Studies class at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. Organizers of the class, which consists of Sikh and non-Sikh students and as well as community members, invited Mr. Singh to provide an overview of the Sikh faith and discuss current issues within the Sikh Diaspora. SMART also held workshops with college students at the East Coast Asian American Students Union (ECAASU) annual conference at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. The workshops included information on critical issues facing the Asian American community, including hate crimes legislation, racial profiling, and immigration. If you would like to host a similar event on your college campus, please email SMART at info@sikhmediwatch.org.