The Sikh Coalition Newsletter

Justice for All - The Weekly Newsletter
May 18, 2004
Volume 32

Hate Crime Attacker Completes Community Service with Coalition

Thomas Brand, a man who attacked a Sikh commuter last year, went to the Makhan Shah Lubana Gurdwara on May 1, 2004 to apologize and collect hate crime reports from the sangat. Mr. Brand came to the gurdwara to complete his community service with the Sikh Coalition.

On March 2, 2003, Thomas Brand harassed Gurpreet Singh, a twenty-five year old technology consultant from Syosset, New York, while they were riding on the Long Island Railroad. Mr. Brand put his finger on Gurpreet Singh's chest and said "Get off the train." Mr. Brand plead guilty to an aggravated harassment charge on February 2004. At Gurpreet Singh's and the Sikh Coalition's request, Mr. Brand was ordered by the judge to perform community service with the Sikh Coalition.

As a part of his community service Mr. Brand has worked at the Sikh Coalition's office over the past few weeks. During this time he learned more about the Sikh people and their faith. In addition he created a new bias incident reporting form and visited local gurdwaras to gather reports of bias from members of the sangat.

At Makhan Shah Lubana Gurdwara he explained his actions to the sangat and apologized. He described what he learned about Sikhism through his community service at the Coalition. He told the sangat, "I have learned so much about your community, religion and culture. Everything I have seen has been warm and beautiful."

The Coalition thanks Mr. Brand for his sincere effort to undue the damage caused by his attack on Gurpreet Singh. We would also like to thank the Nassau County Prosecutor’s office for their support. If you have been the victim of a crime motivated by prejudice, please report it at: http://www.sikhcoalition.org/ListReports.asp

Fauja Singh Inspires Through Adidas's "Impossible is Nothing" Ad Campaign

A news Adidas campaign, "Impossible is Nothing", features 92 year old Sikh marathon runner Fauja Singh, the world record holder for marathon runners over 90 years old. The new ad campaign features him as one of its inspirational athletes. After a fifty year hiatus, Fauja Singh took up running as a hobby at the ripe age of 82, beginning by training for a cancer benefit race. Starting with distances of a few hundred meters, he trained until he was able to complete the full 26 mile marathon. At 92, he set the world record for his age group, by running a marathon in 5 hours and 40 minutes. Fauja Singh's passion for running and life serves as an inspiration for all.

Download the Fauja Singh Wallpaper

View the Interview with Fauja Singh (after clicking on the link, click on athlete's stories to view the Fauja Singh interview)

Two More Kirpan Prosecutions Dropped In Montana

Two kirpan prosecutions were dismissed in Big Horn County, Montana on April 20, 2004. The cases mark the eighth and ninth times the Sikh Coalition has successfully assisted in defending a Sikh from criminal charges for carrying the kirpan.

In July 2002, Gurnam Singh and Surjeet Singh were driving their truck through Montana. They were stopped by a Montana Highway patrol car as they headed west on interstate highway 90. A police officer told them to drive to the nearest truck stop where officers checked their log book and drivers licenses.

After ten minutes Gurnam Singh asked a police officer what was happening. The officer responded by conducting a search of Gurnam Singh. When the officer found Gurnam's kirpan, he took it from Gurnam and threw it into the mud. The officer told Gurnam he was under arrest. When Gurnam tried to explain the religious significance of the kirpan the officer told him to be silent. The officer then told another officer to get Surjeet Singh. The officers searched Surjeet Singh, took his kirpan, and placed him under arrest as well.

The officers then placed Gurnam and Surjeet in their patrol car. The officers asked their immigration status and whether they were in the country here legally. The next day, when they arrived at their court appearance, they were heckled and threatened by persons at the court. Nearby officers did nothing to assist them during the heckling even though an officer was asked to intervene.

The charges against Gurnam and Surjeet were dropped after they appeared last week in court with an attorney from the Montana Advocacy Program. Using a letter and background materials on the kirpan from the Sikh Coalition, the Montana Advocacy Program attorney was able to successfully persuade the prosecutor to drop the kirpan criminal charges against Gurnam and Surjeet. The Coalition is also working to conduct educational sessions with the Montana Highway Patrol to teach them about Sikhs and Sikh religious practices.

South Asia Society Apologizes for Offensive Skit at Bhangra Blowout Competition .

The South Asia Society at George Washington University apologized for an offensive skit at its "Bhangra Blowout" bhangra competition. This year organizers of the event, attended by over 5000 people, included a skit called, Punjabi Eye for the White Guy. This skit described the five kakkars as Keg (of beer), Kurri (womanizing), Kanada (rustic, Punjabi pronunciation of Canada), Kash (meaning Cash or pursuit of material interests), and Kar (or Cars and a passion for self-indulgence) as the new articles of the Sikh faith.

The contents of the skit were immensely hurtful to all many Sikhs in audience, who wrote to express their concern to the Coalition. The Sikh Coalition worked with all parties involved, in particular with the GW Sikh Students Association and the South Asian Students. As a result the South Asia Society has issued a public apology.

The apology in addition to the Sikh Coalition's Sikh Awareness Powerpoint presentation is now posted on the Bhangra Blowout site. The South Asian Society has also agreed to the Coalition's suggestion to support the Sikh Student Association at GWU in carrying out their Sikh Awareness Program next semester.

Massachusetts State Senate Passes Resolution Commemorating the 400th anniversary of Guru Granth Sahib

The Massachusetts State Senate passed a resolution to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib at the Darbar Sahib in Amritsar. Volunteers from the Sikh Coalition and the local New England Sangat drafted the resolution and gathered support from numerous government officials.

Pictured with the Sikh delegation are the Massachusetts Senate President, Robert E. Travaglini (back right) and the Senator Jarrett T. Barrios (back left), who introduced the resolution in the Senate.

Sikh Coalition Conducts Sensitivity Training of Police Recuits

Sikh Coalition conducted a training workshop for over two dozen police recruits at the Monmouth County Police Academy in New Jersey. The interactive session covered Sikh culture and religion and how police officers can better work with the Sikh community. Only a handful of recruits had ever heard of Sikhs before the training and found it especially helpful in enabling them to better deal with Sikhs they may encounter during the course of their work.

New Organization Fights for Human Rights In India

(San Francisco, CA) ENSAAF-a new U.S.-based organization launched to enforce human rights and fight impunity in India- works with survivors to engage in advocacy and outreach, documents violations, and educates the public about human rights abuses in India. ENSAAF has five programs: United Nations, Media and Human Rights, Human Rights Education, Legal Advocacy and Community Advocacy. ENSAAF, which means Justice in many South Asian languages, acts to implement the international rights to knowledge, justice and reparation. The board of directors comprises human rights lawyers Sukhman Dhami and Jaskaran Kaur, as well as Professor Peter Rosenblum of Columbia Law School.[More]

Coalition on Panel at Cardozo Law School About French Ban

The Coalition's legal director discussed the possible ban on the turbans in French public schools and its legality under international law at a panel at Cardozo School of Law in New York City. The panel, organized by Cardozo's South Asian Law Students Association, included representatives from the French Consulate in New York City and Human Rights Watch. The Coalition would like to that the South Asian Law Students Association for organizing a panel on this timely topic.

Coalition presents at City University of New York Law School Panel

On April 1, 2004, the Sikh Coalition's legal director spoke about hate crimes and other forms of bias against Sikhs at a City University of New York Law School panel. The focus of the Coalition's presentation was on how well law enforcement responded to addressing bias-motivated violence against Sikh, Arabs, Muslims and South Asians after September 11, 2001. The Coalition would like to thank the Asian-Pacific American Law Students Association for organizing the panel.

Sikh Coalition Serves on the Advisory Board and Steering Committee of "A More Perfect Union"

On April 15, 2004, the Legal Director of the Sikh Coalition gave the keynote address at a Baisakhi dinner hosted by A More Perfect Union in Richmond, Virginia. A More Perfect Union is an interfaith organization based in Richmond, VA that seeks to educate the community about Muslim, South Asian and Arab cultures, combat hate crimes and discrimination against those groups and increase understanding and respect between religious groups in the community. Attendees included Richmond community and government leaders, faculty and administration from the University of Richmond, and members of the Central Virginia Sikh sangat. [View Richmond Times-Dispatch Article About the Event]

For more information on A More Perfect Union, please visit www.moreperfectunion.info.

Senior Positions with the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) Available Throughout the U.S.

The TSA's Office of Civil Rights encourages minority candidates to apply for seventeen job vacancies throughout the country for Federal Security Directors (FSDs), Deputy Federal Security Directors (DFSDs), and Assistant Federal Security Directors (AFSDs). These senior level positions help the TSA handle security relating to civil aviation, maritime, and all other modes of transportation. The TSA is the lead agency for security at airports, ports, and on the Nation's railroads, highways, and public transit systems.

View Available Positions

NJ Governor Extends Vasakhi Greetings to the Sikh Community

Announcement from the State of New Jersey
"As a gateway to our great nation, New Jersey is continuously enriched by the diversity and strength of those who come to the United States. The Sikh-American citizens are an important and vital aspect of the State of New Jersey and our Nation. Furthermore, the Sikh-American community – with a long and proud history – has contributed much to the culture of our country.

As you begin to embark on the celebration of Vaisakhi, I want to take this opportunity to extend a message of recognition, hope and good wishes,” said Governor McGreevey. “May this year bring you and your loved ones health, happiness, and prosperity.”

[View Pictures from the Event


Coalition Co Sponsors Interfaith Center of New York and Unified Court System of the State of New York One Day Seminar

The Interfaith Center of New York and the Unified Court System of the State of New York cordially invite religious community leaders from the New York tri-state area to participate in a one-day seminar that provides the opportunity for religious leaders to meet key representatives from the Court System.

The purpose of this program is to equip religious leaders in 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 issues that arise when individuals from diverse religious and ethnic communities appear before them in court.

The Brooklyn event emerges from an initial seminar on March 19, 2003. The event was organized by the Interfaith Center of New York and the Hon. Juanita Bing Newton, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives, of the Unified Court System of the State of New York. The event is being continued on a borough-by-borough basis due to the overwhelming response to the first courts program.

Date: Thursday, June 03, 2004
Time: 9:00am-5:00pm
Location: Kings County Court House County Court House - 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, 11201

To RSVP, Please call: (212) 685-4242 x37
Please, Leave your name, address, telephone number, and email address. We will contact you to confirm your reservation. There is no fee to attend.

Coalition Welcomes House Judiciary Committee’s "Yes" Vote on Hasan Family Bill

The Sikh Coalition welcomes the favorable vote by the House Judiciary Committee on H.R. 867, a bill introduced by Congressman Rush Holt to grant the family members of Waquar Hassan permanent residence in the United States. The bill is now with the before House of Representatives for a vote and is almost certain to pass.

Mr. Hasan was the victim of a September 11-related hate crime. A forty-six year old father of four, he was murdered when Mark Stroman entered his convenience store and shot him in the face. When asked by police why he shot Mr. Hassan, Stroman said. "I did it to retaliate on local Arab Americans or whatever you want to call them. I did what every American wanted to do but didn't." Stroman is now on death row.

Before his death, Mr. Hassan had taken steps to become an American citizen. He was in the United States on an immigrant visa, but he had filed a petition with the INS for green cards for himself and his family so that they might stay and eventually become full-fledged Americans. When he was murdered, however, his family's immigration status was placed in jeopardy. Their visas and green card applications were both dependent upon his visa. When he died, their visas and hope of American citizenship died with him.

The Coalition thanks Congressman Holt and the House Judiciary Committee for assisting the Hassan family in their time of crisis.


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