The Sikh Coalition Newsletter

Justice for All - The e-Newsletter
Chet 13, 535 NanakShahi
March 26, 2004
Volume 31

Employer Allows Sikh Woman to Wear Kirpan at Work; Banks Reverses Course After Corresponding With the Sikh Coalition

On February 11, 2004, Harvinder Kaur contacted the Coalition stating that her employer informed her that morning that she would be disciplined and potentially terminated if she continued to wear her kirpan to work. Harvinder Kaur now had to make a choice the next morning when she came back to work: either keep her kirpan at home and compromise her faith, or wear her kirpan to work and face eventual termination.

Harvinder contacted the Coalition a few hours after she was informed she could no longer carry her kirpan to work. The afternoon the Coalition received her call, the Coalition's legal director called her immediate supervisor to try to resolve the matter.

After speaking to Harvinder Kaur's supervisor, the Coalition faxed a letter to her employer, explaining the spiritual significance of the kirpan and citing past precedent where employers either allowed Sikh employees to carry the kirpan or where courts dismissed criminal charges against Sikhs for carrying the kirpan.

The next morning, the Coalition received a call and e-mail from Harvinder Kaur stating that her employer would now allow her to wear the kirpan to work. Her e-mail stated,

No Sikh should fear carrying their kirpan because of discrimination. If you have suffered discrimination because you carry the kirpan, please contact legal@sikhcoalition.org.

Sikh Denied Entry to Club in Decatur, Georgia; Coalition Requests Club Owner to Comply With Law

Decatur, Georgia - A young Sikh, Mandeep Singh, was denied entry to a dance club because he refused to remove his patka. The Coalition has written to the club owner requesting that it comply with federal public accommodation non-discrimination requirements.

On Febuary 7, Mandeep Singh and two friends decided to spend the night at Mama's Primetime Dance Club in Decatur, Georgia. After paying an admission fee and proceeding in the club, Mandeep was stopped by a bouncer and told that the club had a "no hats" policy. Mandeep attempted to explain that his patka was not a hat, but rather an article of faith that must remain on his head.

After a long discussion between Mandeep, his two friends, and bouncers at the club, the bouncers still maintained that he must remove his patka or leave the club. Mandeep chose to leave the club with his friends.

Federal law, and in many cases state law, generally requires that no person be denied entry to a business open to the public simply on the basis of their religious practice. The Sikh Coalition has previously addressed three separate cases where a Sikh was not allowed to enter a restaurant or club because he or she wore a turban.. In all three cases, the Coalition was able to assist the victim vindicate their right to freely enter a business open to the public.

If you are not allowed to enter any place open to the public because you wear a turban, please contact legal@sikhcoalition.org for assistance.

Hospital Employee Makes Religiously Disparaging Comments Towards Sikh Medical Student; Coalition Requests Hospital To Ensure Sikh Employees Are Treated Equally

New York, New York - A ward clerk at St. Vincent's hospital in New York stated within earshot of a Sikh medical student, ""I don't know what his problem is, but he should take that damn rag off his head." The medical student, Paulinder Singh, was passing by, when the clerk made her remark on February 25.

After receiving a complaint from Paulinder Singh, the hospital began prompt disciplinary proceedings against the ward clerk, who did not deny making the statement.

The Coalition has written to the hospital, commending it for taking quick action to appropriately discipline the clerk. The Coalition has also offered the train hospital employees on Sikhs and Sikh practices as means of potentially reducing feelings of bias towards Sikh patients and employees at the hospital.

Federal law, and in most cases state law, requires employers to take measures to ensure the work environment is free of religious or racial harassment. If your co-workers or supervisors make derogatory comments about your faith or perceived beliefs while at work, please contact the legal@sikhcoalition.org for assistance.

Graffiti Sprayed on Gurdwara in Fresno; Police Continue to Look For Leads

Fresno, CA - Vandals painted the words, "It's Not Your Country" and "Rags Go Home" in front of the Sikh Association of Fresno gurdwara on March 13. Police have not yet identified a suspect.

The Sikh Coalition has written to the Fresno police chief expressing concern about the incident. The Coalition has also notified federal and state authorities, requesting that they assist local efforts to discover and prosecute the perpetrators.

Fresno Crime Stoppers is publicizing the incident and soliciting information leading to the identification of the perpetrators. The Fresno Crime Stoppers telephone number is (559) 498-7867.

To read more about this incident go to: http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/8281795p-9124362c.html.

Case Update: Lodi Youths Fabricate Bias Crime Attack
Lodi, NJ - Two young Sikhs, who alleged that their hair was cut off by assailants motivated by anti-Muslim hate, concocted the story according to police in Lodi, New Jersey.

Police in Lodi initially reported that they believed the incident to be a bias crime. On March 10, police reported that the teens confessed to making up the incident in order to provide an acceptable excuse for cutting their hair.

The Coalition would like to thank the Lodi Police for their prompt investigation of the matter, and for their willingness to work with the Sikh community. The Coalition regrets that the resources of the Sikh community were used to support a tale that was ultimately a fabrication.

Thirty-Five Members of Congress Cosponsor French Ban Resolution; Coalition Visits Over 140 Offices in Past Two Weeks
Washington, DC - Thirty-five members of the United States House of Representatives are now cosponsors of House Resolution 528. The resolution calls on France to modify or abandon a bill prohibiting religious articles of faith in public schools.

During the past two weeks, the Coalition visited over 140 offices, requesting members of the congress to cosponsor the bill. The Coalition will continue to visit these efforts along with United Sikhs, Voices of Freedom and the local Washington sangat.

Please request that your member of congress to cosponsor the resolution. Constituent phone calls are critical for building support for the resolution. [More information on how to contact your representative]

Coalition Meets With United Nations Special Rapporteur on Racism
The Coalition attended a meeting with Doudou Diene, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Racism on March 9. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss efforts to combat bias against Muslim, Arabs, and those perceived to be Muslim or Arab after September 11, 2001. The meeting was organized by Global Rights, a Washington-based international human rights organization. In the meeting, the Coalition updated Mr. Diene on hate crime and bias issues affecting Sikhs in the United States. In addition, the Coalition discussed the French Ban and its link to racism against religous minorities. Mr. Diene will be updating his report to the United Nations regarding race and bias issues in the next several months. The Coalition thanks Mr. Diene and Global Rights for organizing the meeting.

New Jersey Sikhs Hold "Train the Trainer" Session at Bridgewater Gurdwara
Bridgewater, New Jersey - The Sikh Coalition assisted in conducting a "train the trainer" session organized by members of the New Jersey sangat on March 13. The purpose of the session, held at Bridgewater Gurdwara, was to teach interested persons methods of presenting information on Sikhs and Sikh practices to local law enforcement and government administrative agencies. Approximately, ten persons attended the first of four training sessions the program requires. The Coalition thanks Gurparkash Singh, Harvinder Singh and Sutinder Singh for organizing the session and the Bridgewater Gurdwara for hosting it. If you are interested in participating in future sessions, please contact Gurparkash Singh.

New Jersey Ethnic Advisory Council Meets With New Jersey Sikhs
Bridgewater, New Jersey - Members of the New Jersey Governor's Ethnic Advisory Council attended an open house at the Bridgewater Gurdwara. The Council advises New Jersey Governor, James McGreevey on issues concerning New Jersey's ethnic and minority communities. Council members heard presentations on Sikhism and Sikh civil rights concerns, listened to kirtan and discussed Sikh civil rights issues with the members of the local sangat. The Coalition would like to thank Sutinder Singh (Dhanjal), a member of the Ethnic Advisory Council, for organizing the gathering.

New Jersey Division on Civil Rights To Translate Materials to Punjabi
At the urging of the Sikh Coalition and New Jersey Sikhs, the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights will translate materials explaining basic civil right protections and the assistance that the Division can provide in Punjabi.

On December 11, 2003, the Coalition and all eight New Jersey gurdwaras released the "New Jersey Sikh Civil Rights Agenda" to the public. The agenda calls on state civil rights agencies to translate their materials to Punjabi.

The Coalition is presently working with the Division to translate the materials. It is anticipated that they will be available to the public in May. The Coalition would like to thank the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights for working to ensure that their materials are accessible to New Jersey's Sikh community.

Coalition Leads Discussion on Sikh Civil Rights Concerns at Hunter College Class
New York, NY - On February 26, the Coalition's legal director lead a university class discussion on the challenges facing the Sikh community after September 11, 2001. The class, "Politics and Asian American Identity," is part of the Asian American Studies curriculum at Hunter College of the City University of New York. The Coalition thanks Hunter College and the Professor Deepa Iyer for inviting it to present at the class.

Coalition Conducts Conference Seminar Discussion at Columbia University
New York, NY - The Coalition's legal director lead a conference seminar discussion on Sikh civil rights concerns on February 14 at Columbia University. The conference, "Defending Immigrant Rights: Civil Liberties during Wartime and Beyond," was organized by a collection of student organizations to discuss the status of immigrant and minority rights concerns in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. The Coalition thanks the conference organizers for inviting it to present at the conference.

Announcement: Interfaith Center and Unified Court System of New York to Host Meeting Between Religious Community Leaders and Court Administrators
On June 3, 2003, the Interfaith Center of New York and Unified Court System of the State of New York are hosting a one-day seminar for religious leaders and representatives of the New York court system. The purpose of this program is to equip religious leaders in Brooklyn to better serve as advisors and advocates to members of their communities involved in different areas of the court system. It will also help judges and court professionals better understand the cultural and religious issues that arise when individuals from diverse religious and ethnic communities appear before them in court. The meeting will be held on June 3 at the Kings County Court House.