The Sikh Coalition Newsletter

Justice for All e-Newsletter
March 16, 2005
Volume 42

Coalition and Councilman Weprin Organize Press Conference For New York City Backlash Mitigation Bill

(March 5, 2006) The Daily News recently published an editorial criticizing the Backlash Mitigation Bill that the Sikh Coalition co-authored. In response, several organizations and members of the community wrote letters praising the Backlash Mitigation Bill and expressed their anger at the discriminatory outlook of expressed by the Daily News.

In addition, the Sikh Coalition and NYC Councilman David Weprin’s office organized a press conference to boost support for the bill. At the event, Councilman Weprin along with the Anti-Defamation League, Sikh Coalition, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee representatives, spoke on why the bill is crucial for New York City in the event of another terrorist attack.

Coverage on the press conference: Newsday | Queen’s Chronicle | Epoch Times

Coalition Attends Dept. of Justice Meeting

(February 7, 2006) - Attorneys Amandeep Singh and Gurjit Kaur represented the Sikh Coalition at the bi-monthly meeting regarding the civil rights concerns of the Sikh, South Asian, Muslim, and Arab communities. The meeting was an inter-agency event between the Department of Treasury, Department of Homeland Security, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Department of Transportation. They presented two cases of discrimination to these meeting attendees.

Coalition Participates in New York Immigration Coalition’s Advocacy Day

(February 15, 2006) - The Coalition lobbied members of the New York City Council during the New York Immigration Coalition’s City Advocacy Day. City Advocacy Day is attended by over 600 immigrants who lobby the city council for immigrant concerns. The Sikh Coalition was able to meet with city council committee chairs, as well as their staff. The advocacy day gave the Coalition an opportunity to explain why the City Uniform Anti-Discrimination Act as well as the Backlash Mitigation Bill should become the law in New York City.

Coalition Trains NYPD Officers

(February 15, 2006) - Two training sessions were conducted by the Sikh Coalition for New York City Transit Police Department officers at the Union Square Station. The trainings educated the officers on Sikhism, and provided helpful tips on how to interact with Sikh Community members.

Coalition Features in Bar Association Panel

(February 22, 2006) - The South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY) organized a panel focused on one of the Sikh Coalition’s bills: The City Uniform Anti-Discrimination Act. This gave the Coalition an opportunity to explain the importance of the bill to some of New York’s top South Asian attorneys.

Carteret Sikhs Organize Civil Rights Forum – Coalition Presents

(February 24, 2006) - The Coalition presented the civil rights concerns of New Jersey Sikhs to the Attorney General’s office, Department of Education, Division of Motor Vehicles, and the New Jersey Human Relations Commission. The Carteret Sikhs did an excellent job organizing this function to promote the safety and civil rights of Sikhs in New Jersey.

Coalition Participates in St. John’s University Panel

(March 8, 2006) - The Coalition discussed the Civil rights concerns of Sikhs post 9/11 at a panel organized by the St. John’s University South Asian Law Students Association.

Coalition Supports Efforts to Expand Voting Rights

(March 14, 2006) - The Coalition attended a press conference organized by the New York Coalition to Expand Voting Rights (NYCEVR). The NYCEVR presently supports a bill in the New York City Council that would allow non-citizens to vote in local elections. To find out more information about the bill, click here.

Resources on Immigration Reform from SAALT

South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow (SAALT) has developed a toolkit on immigration reform. The toolkit contains a list of very basic Questions and Answers about immigration reform; talking points; and language for a letter to the editor, as well as a chart on various immigration reform policies pending right now in Congress.  The Coalition encourages members of the community to use this resource. The toolkit can be found on SAALT’s website: www.saalt.org.

SAALT seeks Outreach Coordinator

This person will be responsible for enhancing the capacity of local South Asian groups and community members by coordinating communications among South Asian organizations/advocates in New Jersey, building the capacity of organizations in New Jersey, conducting issue-based programming as well as advocating at the policy level for South Asian community members. If interested please send a resume and letter of interest to Deepa Iyer, Executive Director by mail: 962 Wayne Avenue, Suite 500 Silver Spring, MD 20910 or emailing saalt@saalt.org with the subject line “NJ Outreach Coordinator Application”.

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