The Sikh Coalition Newsletter

Justice for All - The e-Newsletter
Poh 5, 535 NanakShahi
December 18, 2003
Volume 29

Coalition Provides Training to Bias Crime Officers on Sikhs and Sikhism

(December 11, 2003) The Coalition provided training on Sikhism and Sikh practices to over 100 bias crime officers from throughout New Jersey and parts of New York.  The training, which was organized by the Monmouth County Bias Crime Officers Association, gave police bias crime detectives an opportunity to learn about Sikhs and Sikh bias crime concerns.  The Coalition would like to thank the Monmouth County Bias Crime Officers Association and Detective Davie D’Amico for inviting it to present at the training.

Investigators Sides With Sikh Complaint; Finds Subway Engaged in Discrimination Against Sikh

(December 11, 2003)  Investigators from the Alberta Human Rights Commission >sided with a Sikh owner of Subway sandwich shops who said that he suffered unlawful discrimination when franchise representatives told him he could not wear his turban while serving customers.   Hardip Singh (Brah), told a news conference in Edmonton that a Subway representative called his dastaar "a diaper on his head" and forbade him from wearing it. Hardeep Singh filed a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission.  Last month investigators upheld it, calling Subway's policy discriminatory and suggesting that he be awarded $6,500 in damages. The confidential 15-page report is not legally binding, and commission members will make a final ruling.

Coalition Commemorates Human Rights Day by Sponsoring Screening of "And Justice For All"

(December 10, 2003) In commemoration of International Human Rights Day, the Coalition sponsored a screening of “And Justice for All” at the Northwest Asian American Theater in Seattle, Washington.    The documentary chronicles U.S. responses to September 11 and their impact on immigrants and civil and human rights.  Hardeep Singh, a Seattle-area attorney, is featured in the documentary.  He appeared on a panel that discussed the film after its screening.

Coalition Meets With New Jersey Department of Education

(December 9, 2003) The Coalition, along with South Asian, Arab and Muslim organizations, met with representatives from the New Jersey Department of Education.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss bias and discrimination in public schools.   The Coalition’s legal director attended the meeting with Sutinder Singh, President of the Sikh Sabha in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.  The issues raised at the meeting included the harassment case of a Sikh child in Marlboro, New Jersey and a request that the State Department video on terrorism not be shown in New Jersey schools. 

If your child is being harassed at school because he or she is Sikh, please contact the Sikh Coalition at education@sikhcoalition.org or legal@sikhcoalition.org.  In addition, the Coalition has provided numerous presentations at middle and high schools on Sikhs and Sikhism.  If you would like the Sikh Coalition to do the same at your child’s school, please contact education@sikhcoalition.org.

University of California Sikh Alumni Association Formed

(December 7, 2003) The Sikh alumni of the University of California formed an alumni association.  A charter signing ceremony was held on December 7, 2003.  All University of California alumni are invited to join the association.  To learn more about the association and join it, please go to www.calsikhalumni.org.

NAPALC Provides Training to South Asian Organizations

(December 8, 2003) The National Asian Pacific America Legal Consortium organized a leadership conference for South Asian organizations around the United States  The conference, held from December 7^th and 8^th in Washington, DC , included training on advocacy, media relations, board development and grant writing.  The Coalition participated in the conference with all expenses paid by NAPALC.  The Coalition would like to thank NAPALC for organizing the conference and for providing vital training to all the South Asian organizations present at the conference.

9th Circuit Court of Appeals Agrees With Coalition; Harpal Singh Not a Threat To National Security

(December 1, 2003) The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the release of Harpal Singh. Harpal Singh had been in INS custody since 1997. The federal government sought his deportation to India on the grounds that he supported terrorist activity in India and therefore constituted a threat to U.S. national security.

The Sikh Coalition filed a brief as amicus curiae, a “friend of the court” brief, in support of Harpal Singh on September 20, 2002.  The Coalition intervened on Harpal Singh’s behalf to defend the reputation of the Sikh American community and to ensure that Harpal Singh would not be deported to India where, as the court agreed, he would face certain torture. 

The Coalition would like to thank Ravinder Singh of Krovatin and Associates in Newark, New Jersey for drafting and submitting the amicus brief on behalf of the Coalition and Robert Jobe, Harpal Singh’s attorney, for drafting the principle brief.

Coalition Presents at University Course on Comparative Religion

(December 1, 2003) The Coalition presented the Sikh faith to class of undergraduate students studying comparative religion at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin.   Gaurav Singh from Chicago presented on behalf of the Coalition, discussing the origins, development and current challenges facing the Sikh nation.  The presentation was well-received with several students staying after class to find out more about Sikhs and Sikhism. The Coalition would like to thank Prof. Brian Smith for his invitation to speak before his class.

New Jersey Sikhs Provide Training to County Prosecutor's Office on Sikhs and Sikhism

(November 25, 2003) The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s office in Middlesex County, New Jersey received training on Sikhs and Sikh practices.  The training was conducted by Gurparkash Singh and Harvinder Singh from the Garden State Sikh Association Gurdwara in Bridgewater, New Jersey.  The Coalition commends the Garden State Sikh Association and Gurparkash Singh and Harvinder Singh for their tireless efforts to educate prosecutors and the police on Sikhs and Sikh issues.  The Coalition also thanks the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s office for inviting the Sikh community to provide training to them.

New Jersey Governor Commemorates Martyrdom Day of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

 (November 24, 2003) New Jersey Governor James McGreevey (standing on the right) hosted a ceremony at the State House in honor of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib’s martyrdom day and Diwali.  The Governor honored the Sikh community at the urging of New Jersey Sikhs and the Sikh Coalition.  Pictured center, behind the Governor is Sutinder Singh, President of the Sikh Sabha Gurdwara in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and Harvinder Singh.

Coalition on Hate Crimes Panel at Georgetown Law School

(November 19, 2003) The South Asian Law Students Association at Georgetown University Law School of Law hosted a screening of the documentary “Raising Our Voices: South Asian Americans Address Hate.”   The documentary, produced by the South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow (SAALT), discusses hate crimes against South Asians in the United States both before and after September 11^th, 2001.  Harsimran Kaur, a Washington area attorney, represented the Sikh Coalition at a post-screening panel discussion.

Coalition At Seattle Forum on Racial Profiling and Police Accountability

(November 18, 2003) The Sikh Coalition was present at a Seattle forum organized by the Seattle City Council on police accountability and racial profiling.  At the forum, Coalition representatives Gurvinder Singh and Hardeep Singh raised the case of Harjit Singh, the Sikh cab driver who was attacked in Seattle.   The case was discussed the next day in an article about the forum published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Seattle Taxi Cab Attack Case Update: Cab Company to Hold Blood Drive

Harjit Singh, the Sikh taxi cab driver who was attacked in Seattle by a group of men, is organizing a blood drive for employees of a predominantly Sikh cab company on December 24, 2003.  The purpose of the blood drive is to demonstrate that Sikh cab drivers are contributing and integral members of the local community.  The Coalition applauds Harjit Singh for his initiative and urges the local sangat to participate enthusiastically in the blood drive.  If you would like to participate, please contact Jasmit Singh at Jasmit.Singh@sikhcoalition.org.