SALDEF in the News
Sikh Group Joins the 70th International Association of Human Right Agencies in Orlando
SALDEF participated on a panel at the 70th International Association of Human Right Agencies event held Tuesday, August 20th. The panel entitled “Empowered and undivided by our different religious beliefs,” discussed pressing community issues, hate crimes based on religious beliefs and against minorities, and mass shootings. SALDEF Regional Director Navtej S. Khalsa added that “Even though there is the separation of church and state in the United States, there should be education in public schools on the various faiths to eradicate ignorance.”
A Rockford woman is suing the Illinois secretary of state in an attempt to change a state rule requiring those who wear religious head covering in their driver’s license photo to also certify that they do not normally remove that head covering in public. The current regulation states that the person must sign an acknowledgment that he or she does not typically “remove the head dressing in public as a matter of courtesy or protocol.” Previously, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund and CAIR worked together to encourage the secretary of state’s office to send flyers to DMV employees to remind them that people do not have to remove religious headwear when taking official photos.
Recent News
‘This is unacceptable’ | Sikh man murdered on an evening walk in Tracy park
On Sunday, August 25th Paramjit Singh was stabbed to death when walking though Gretchen Talley Park in Tracy, California at around 9 pm. Tracy police do not have a clear suspect yet and are asking for the community’s help in identifying a man who was captured on video hopping a fence and running away from the park around the time when the incident took place. Singh left behind his two kids and three grandkids. Singh’s daughter, Mohandavinder Singh Kang added that “He was a very loving person. I can’t believe that he’s not here with me.”
A Taste of Home for California’s Punjabi Truck Drivers
Punjabi Dhaba in Bakersfield, California is reminiscent of dhabas in India and Pakistan. The restaurant is located on the roadside, next to a truck wash and a repair shop. “If you were tired and bleary-eyed from the road, like so many of the drivers who parked their big rigs in the lot behind Punjabi Dhaba, it was a luxurious break from fast-food chains and gas-station snacks.”
When NBA great Shaquille O’Neal spent a day at a Los Angeles gurdwara
Shaquille O’ Neal recently spent a day at the Khalsa Care Foundation in Pacoima, California. Sikh American actor and model Amandeep Singh, who hosted the former Lakers and Heat legend at the gurdwara, described the experience as greatly satisfying. Singh added, “Shaq was so eager to learn about the Sikh community and met the community members with so much love.”
The Festival of Faiths facilitates ongoing conversations among civic leaders of diverse religions
On September 8th, Festival of Faiths, a celebration of interfaith understanding and collaboration will take place in Cincinnati. Along with a Sikh martial art demonstration, the festival will feature faith-based presentations, artists, service opportunities, activities, and community conversations for all ages.
Hate Crimes Are On The Rise, But Four States Don’t Have Laws To Protect Victims Or Punish Offenders
Despite the rise of hate crimes in the U.S., Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina and Wyoming are the only states in the country that do not provide any protection for victims of hate crimes or concrete penalties for offenders. According to a spokesperson for the Anti-Defamation League, “The biggest roadblock to hate crime laws in those states is the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity.”
Following concerns raised by several ethnic minority groups, The California Department of Education is revising its draft curriculum for ethnic studies. Samir Kalra, managing director of the Hindu American Foundation noted that the curriculum does not note that Sikh Americans were one of the first minorities to come to the state or that Sikh Americans in the Sutter/Yuba county area helped build the state’s large agricultural sector. The current draft curriculum does refer to Sikhs and other South Asians twice in a portion that deals with the rise of hate crimes after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
ICE rule change on U visas sparks outrage
The Trump administration’s new change to U visas will make immigrants far less likely to report serious crimes, according to immigration attorneys.“The U visa was created in 2000 by a bipartisan majority in Congress….to provide protection for immigrant survivors in coming forward and seeking protection.” The new directive allows ICE to deport pending U visa applicants at their discretion.