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The Sikh Coalition Newsletter
The Voice - Quarterly Newsletter
January 2002
Issue I
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ke Fateh,
Welcome to the inaugural issue of The Sikh Coalition Newsletter.
As we celebrate the Gupurab of our tenth master, Guru Gobind
Singh Ji, and enter a new year, we look forward to the Sikh
community rising to the challenges that face it. This Newsletter
is meant to help keep the Sikh Community aware of the issues
facing it, as well as the measures be taken to defend it.
In this installment we present the issues that have faced
the Sikh community since September 11th and the steps The
Sikh Coalition has taken to address these issues.
Since September 11th, Sikhs around the world have awoken
from a long slumber and become aware of their need to boldly
step forward and present the beauty and truth of Sikhism
to the world around them. Though the backlash against Sikhs
is not as stunning as the attacks of 1984, nor as horrific
as the human rights atrocities that followed, it has been
a wake up call. No longer can we crawl into the shadows
of the world we live in, passively practicing the freedom
that we so vocally espouse. The events of the last two months
are not a call to action to overcome the hostilities of
the day, they are a cry for us to live up to the ideals
the Guru has blessed upon us each day. Sikhism does not
leave us the comfort of retreating into shadows while the
world faces injustice. We must champion the downtrodden,
defend the oppressed and passionately embrace the freedom
that only God can grant.
Our struggle is first to live up to the Sikh ideals the
Guru has placed before us. From that we must present these
ideals to the world around us. We must actively become a
part of any society that provides an avenue for us to positively
contribute to the benefit of all mankind. We must shake
the hand of the police officer, dawn the uniform of the
firefighter, care for the people as healers, educate the
children as teachers, participate in the schools as parents,
actively engage in the community as neighbors, exercise
our freedom as voters, and participate in matters that test
nations. In every avenue of life, we must step forward and
announce ourselves by noble actions that are the essence
of the Sikh Spirit.
Since the 11th we have mourned those lost, participated
in vigils, wrote articles, helped create television stories
and public service announcements, lobbied the officials
that represent us, fought for the rights of those discriminated
against, and actively engaged the media to present a positive
image of the Sikhs. These are only our first small steps
as we seek to sprint ahead as equal and identifiable members
of the greater society. Within our communities each and
every one of us is an ambassador of the faith.
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ke Fateh
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The Sikh Coalition Web Site
The web site www.sikhcoalition.org presents
a single accurate and positive resource for external
parties seeking to understand the Sikh identity
and the current issues and circumstances facing
Sikhs. In addition, the site is informational
for the community and a critical resource for
activists seeking to work with their local and
regional communities. It has become a resource
for media and legal entities interested in regional
or national information concerning Sikhs
Bias Incidents
Within a day of the 11th, a place where Sikhs
suffering bias incidents could report the incidents
was created, widely publicized, and became the
standard in the community. The Bias Incident Reporting
Center has had tens of thousands of hits, has
been viewed regularly by the Federal government
to track bias incidents and has been used and
cited in numerous news articles.
Political Action
Center
The efforts of the Sikh community in contacting
their members of Congress in support of the Senate
and House resolutions on hate crimes was facilitated
greatly by the Legislative Action Center on the
site. Sikhs from across the country and even across
the world were able to find out:
1) the status of the resolution;
2) the number of cosponsors;
3) how to contact their representatives; and
4) what to say. The Legislative Action
Center has the potential to be a rallying point
for the community in further government outreach
efforts.
Legal Center
The Legal Center includes basic legal information
pertaining to Sikhs. It is a resource for attorneys
and the media so they may become familiar with
legal issues past and present affecting Sikhs
not only in America, but all over the world. It
presents case law and precedents for lawyers defending
the freedoms of Sikhs and a know your rights section
for every Sikh seeking to understand their rights
in troublesome times. The Know Your Rights portions
of the Legal Center has the potential to become
a rallying point for Sikhs in the U.S. and overseas
in articulating the substantive rights of Sikhs.
The Know Your Rights Center plans on not only
including civil rights law, but international
human rights law, so that Sikhs may compare the
conditions in which they live with international
standards
Community Press
Release Center
Reflecting the community embracing aspects
of The Sikh Coalition, the Community Press Release
Center allows any Sikh organization to submit
a press release to the site for the benefit of
the press and general public. The Community Press
Release Center has been utilized by many community
and non-community groups including: the U.S. Department
of Transportation, the Sikh Religious Society
of Milwaukee, the United Nations and the Sikhs
of Southern California.
Education
Center
The Education center presents employers, educators,
parents and others with accurate and simple to
understand information about the Sikhs. Whether
focused on grade school children or government
agencies, the center distills information to its
essence. |
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Legal Activities of
the Sikh Coalition:
Created a website
to document hate crimes against Sikhs
- With numerous reports
arising, many incorrect or based on rumors,
the coalition understood the reputation
of the community with media and government
agencies was at stake. A team of more than
twelve was assembled to validate and disseminate
accurate information to the government,
media and Sikh resources.
- This website is
used by the Department of Justice to track
hate crime incidents against Sikhs
Presented to the
United States Department of Justice on the situation
facing Sikhs after September 11th
- Multiple Meetings,
first to present who we are, then to investigate
specific hate crimes incidents. Currently
meeting regularly to give updates, provide
additional information and follow up on
status of current investigations
- The Sikh Coalition
and Department of Justice jointly investigate
hate crimes against Sikhs
- Regular contact
(at peak every other day) with the Department
of Justice investigators on progress and
status of hate crime investigations
Met with Attorney
General Ashcroft and his staff. Presented
them with a Legal memorandum discussion issues
pertinent to the Sikhs. As a result of this
meeting we have a relationship with the Attorney
General’s office
- Met with Assistant
Attorney General for Civil Rights to follow
up on incidents concerning Sikhs and establish
a process around addressing the issues and
interests of the community
Worked to preserve
the rights of Sikh Travelers
Obtained a dismissal
of kirpan case against Makhan Singh in New York.
In this case The Sikh Coalition met with the
Deputy Commissioner’s office of the city of
New York and presented them with a legal review
and information on the kirpan. The case was
dropped by the city without Makkan Singh having
to go before a judge.
Obtained
a dismissal of kirpan case against a Sikh truck
driver in Tennessee who was stopped. The
Coalition presented the District Attorney’s
office with a legal memorandum and briefed their
prosecutor. The case was dropped without a court
hearing.
- During the sentencing
of a man convicted of killing a Sikh taxi
driver last year, The Sikh Coalition presented
the court with a letter expressing the concern
of the community over this crime. The Sikh
Coalition statement was cited in the official
court decision. The murderer was given a life
sentence.
- Assisted in EEOC
and court proceedings in several employment
discrimination cases where Sikhs have been
inappropriately dismissed or discriminated
again
- Met,
developed contacts and participated in meetings
or presentations with numerous Arab, Muslim
and South Asian organizations including: Arab
American Institute, Council on American Islamic
Relations, American Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee, Muslim Public Affairs Council,
South Asian Leaders of Tomorrow, National
Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium and
Asian American Legal Defense and Education
Fund. Example:
- Established relationship
with the NAPALC to promote the awareness
of Sikhs victimized by hate crimes
- Established relationships
with the ACLU Attorney on Civil Rights violations
- Investigating sentencing
of a Sikh professor to death based upon the
universally condemned TADA laws and a statement
elicited under torture
- Offered pro-bono
legal advice to dozens of Sikhs who have been
victims of employment discrimination, hate
crimes or profiling since September 11, 20001.
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- Created Presentations
Templates for
- Established relations
with Study Circles Resource Center, a community
group that normally works with the Dept of
Justice and other government organizations
on addressing the needs of the people
- Helped DOJ create
a document in Punjabi on Discrimination
- Met with DC and other
county police chiefs to educate them on Sikhism,
present them with issues facing Sikhs and
establish a continuing education and follow
up procedure
- Material on Sikhism
for textbooks under development and dialog
initiated with major publishers. Attempting
to correct misconceptions of Sikhs within
these publications
- Established relationship
with The Boys and Girls club of America. Working
together to have materials regarding Sikhs
introduced into their educational activities
- Organized and ran
a “Know your Rights” Seminar at Columbia University
- Presented issues
relating to Sikhs and the backlash of September
11th at Fordham University, Cornel
University and the International Monetary
Fund.
- Represented Sikh
community at training session organized by
the Community Relations Service of the Justice
Department called "Interfacing, Communicating,
and Collaborating with Arab Americans, Muslims,
and Sikhs." Training session provides Department
of Justice and other Federal agency officials
with basic cultural, religious, and background
information helpful to those who work with
those groups.
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- Japanese Broadcasting
Special on the Sikhs – Currently in Progress
- Public Service Announcements
on MTV
- Appearance
on Today show segment
- Organized and moderated
Press Conference for New Jersey hate crime
victims on September 24, 2001. Press Conference
received coverage on two television channels:
- Appeared on News
12 New Jersey forum of religious
leaders on the backlash
on September 14, 2001
- Public Service Announcement
National Geographic Television - Recorded,
not yet aired
- Established relationships
with reporters from the New York Times, Newsweek,
Newsday, AP, and other media outlets.
- Presented story idea
and worked with the reporters of Newsweek
to tell the story of the Sikh doctor who was
on the scene immediately after the attacks
helping the victims (appeared in
the Spirit of America, special Newsweek Edition)
- Members of the Coalition
have contributed to well over 200 news articles
in key media sources (NY times, Newsweek,
CNN, etc..) representing Sikhs since the attacks
- Created sample press
releases, flyers and supporting material on
the Sikh faith to used by communities across
the US in the initial days after the attacks
- Currently working
with a PR agency to help Sikh issues and statements
gain further penetration into new services
(AP), news entities (print and media) as well
as publicizing important Sikh issues, activities
and accomplishments
- Created a database
of over 800 individual reporters and 600 media
organizations. These news generators were
sent detailed daily reports following the
attacks. These reports helped generate stories
and create a link with media sources.
- Long term relationship
and constant contact established with
numerous media contacts as a result of
these efforts.
- The Sikh Coalition
has been referenced by name in 20-30 news
articles since October
- Created a press kit
presented to religion reporters for major
newspapers across the nation
- Created Press Kit
for Media about Sikhism and issues facing
the Sikhs
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