The Sikh Coalition Newsletter

Justice for All e-Newsletter
June 6 , 2005
Volume 38

Sikhs MTA Policy at Sikh Day Parade in New York City

Scores of Sikhs marched under the banner “End Discrimination Against Sikhs in the MTA” at the annual Sikh Day Parade in New York City on April 30. Led by Sathari Singh, the marchers called on the MTA to end its discriminatory policy of requiring only Muslims and Sikhs to wear its logo on their headdress.

To learn more about the Coalition’s and Sathari’s fight against discrimination at the MTA, click here.

Coalition’s Work Honored by Black, Asian, Latino Law Students Association at Benjamin Cardozo Law School
On April 19, the Black, Asian, Latino Law Students Association (BALLSA) presented the Chavez, Houston and Korematsu Public Service Award for Commitment to Human Rights, Civil Rights Advocacy and Public Service to the Coalition’s Legal Director. The award honors those with a demonstrated commitment to utilizing the law to advance social justice. The Coalition thanks Cardozo’s BAALSA chapter for the award and for its commitment to supporting public interest law.

Sikh Coalition Meets Senate Democratic Leaders in Washington, DC
The Coalition met with Senate Democratic Leaders on March 28 at a meeting organized by the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium for Asian Pacific American organizations. Harsimran Kaur represented the Coalition to discuss the Workplace Religious Freedom Act, the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, the Dream Act and the Real ID Act.

Coalition Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month With Mayor Bloomberg and APA Leaders
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg hosted a reception at his home, Gracie Mansion, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage month on April 16. The Coalition, along with scores of Asian Pacific American leaders and activists, joined Mayor Bloomberg in celebrating the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to New York City.

Sikh Coalition Joins New York Coalition to Expand Voting Rights
For the first 150 years of its history, all people, regardless of their immigration status, were permitted to vote in New York City elections. On April 15, 2005, the Sikh Coalition joined the New York Coalition to Expand Voting Rights, a coalition of over 40 non-governmental organizations to announce the introduction of a bill in the New York City Council that would allow non-citizens to vote again in local elections. The Coalition’s Legal Director spoke at a press event in support of the bill, which was introduced by Councilman Bill Perkins.

The Coalition thanks New Immigrant Community Empowerment for leading the effort to restore the vote for non-citizens in local elections. For more information visit http://www.immigrantvoting.org/material/about.html. To view a Spanish language article in Hoy about the bill, click here.

Sikh Coalition to Cosponsor Panel of Racial Profiling Post-9/11 Organized by NAPAWF
The New York Chapter of the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) is pleased to announce a civil rights discussion on the subject of racial profiling since 9/11, with a particular interest in the impact of racial profiling on Arab, Muslim and Sikh communities and families. The panel will be held in New York City on June 8, 2005, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at a location to be announced. Those interested in attending should e-mail contact@sikhcoalition.org.

Coalition Participates on Domestic Violence Panel
The Sikh Coalition’s Legal Director participated on panel titled “Domestic Violence, Immigration and the Faith-based Community” at the Queens Museum of Art on April 30. The panel, organized by Sanctuary for Families, was part of the second annual community dialogue between government, domestic violence advocates and the faith community. New York City Councilman John Liu, state court judges, representatives from the Mayor’s office and representatives of the Sikh, Muslim and Hindu faiths participated in the forum.

Jersey Guys Apologize – Sikh Coalition Joined in Protest of New Jersey Radio Station Broadcast

“We're bending over backwards to cater to fringe groups of people and I don't like it!... Damn Orientals and Indians…. It’s like you’re a foreigner in your own country isn’t it?”

These comments were made on April 25 during a radio show on 101.5 FM in New Jersey. Craig Carton and Ray Rossi, hosts of the “Jersey Guys” radio show spoke in mock Asian gibberish, described Asians as foreigners who interfere with the political process of this nation and portrayed Asians as outsiders who are not "American."

On May 25, the two radio hosts apologized on the air when they hosted Jun Choi, a Korean American mayoral candidate in Edison, New Jersey, whom they had mocked on the air. In addition to apologizing, the radio station has agreed to:

• issue a public apology that will be available on their website.
• conduct refresher cultural diversity and competency training for their entire management team, on-air staff, program directors, producers and phone screeners.
• create a stronger policy against racially derogatory speech.
• on-air promotion of events within New Jersey concerning the Asian American community. As part of these efforts, the station assisted in the promotion of the dedication of a memorial event on May 28 to honor Min Soo Choi, an Asian American soldier who served and died in Iraq.

The Sikh Coalition, along with a coalition of dozens other organizations including the Organization of Chinese Americans (New Jersey chapter), the New Jersey Chinese American Federation, the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York, the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of New Jersey, the Coalition Against Hate Media and the South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey, expressed their concern regarding the show to the station manager.

To read a transcript of the offensive broadcast, go to: http://www.asianmediawatch.net/jerseyguys/index.html#audio

Coalition Opposes Real ID Act
Two weeks ago, the Senate passed the Real ID Act. This act will require proof of date of birth, place of residence and proof of immigration status, including citizenship, among other information, in order to receive a driver’s license. It also creates higher evidentiary burdens for those seeking political asylum and would close avenues to challenging detention in federal courts.

The Real ID Act will affect all Americans – citizens, individuals who are out of status, and legal immigrants alike – but may have more severe consequences for the Sikh community:
• It will be more difficult to obtain asylum; applicants would need to meet higher standards to prove that they cannot return to their country of origin.
• Employees at driver's license offices will be making determination decisions on who receives a driver's license based on whether an applicant has provided proper proof of valid immigration status. Citizens and legal immigrants of certain ethnicities or who have accents may be held to higher standards or greater scrutiny.
• Those held in detention/deportation will not be able to challenge their detention through federal courts. This suspends the right of habeas corpus.
• Women who are victims of domestic violence or stalking will be placed in a vulnerable situation, as all driver's licenses would require the inclusion of residential addresses.

For these reasons, the Sikh Coalition opposes the Real ID Act and urges community action on this legislative issue. For more information on Real ID, go to: http://www.immigrationforum.org/documents/PolicyWire/Legislation/Analysis_REALIDPassed.pdf

Sikh Coalition Seeks Executive Director
The Executive Director will lead the Sikh Coalition toward developing a strong voice for Sikhs. The ideal candidate will be able to establish a strategy and execute a plan for growth that will further the organization’s mission. The Executive Director will be passionate about the Coalition’s mission, have the ability to work with a wide range of people inside the Sikh community and be able to effectively represent the organization with leaders in other non-governmental organizations, government and the media. Salary is commensurate with experience. This position is based in New York City and reports to the Board of Trustees. [Full Job Description / Application Instructions]

Sikh Coalition Seeks Operations Manager
To run the growing operations of the Sikh Coalition, we seek a self-starter to manage the various and diverse aspects of the Coalition’s operational activities. The ideal candidate will be able to ensure stability for all Coalition operations, manage volunteers and maintain financial records. The Operations Manager will be passionate about the Coalition’s mission, have the ability to work with a wide range of people inside affected communities and be able to effectively represent the organization as needed. [Full Job Description / Application Instructions]

Sikh Coalition Seeks New York City Sikh Community Advocate
The Community Advocate will work to empower the New York City Sikh community so that its members may effectively understand and defend their essential rights. The Community Advocate will assist the Coalition in proactively addressing discrimination, rather than reacting to it. In addition, the Community Advocate will work with gurdwaras to understand the needs of local Sikhs, reach out to the community to help its members understand their rights and represent Sikh interests to government officials. [Full Job Description / Application Instructions]

Thank You to Muntek Singh
The Coalition thanks Muntek Singh from Houston for his computer expertise and patience. During his spring break from college, he flew to New York to help build the Sikh Coalition’s office information technology infrastructure. The Coalition thanks him for his time and for using his break from college studies to assist the Coalition’s work.

Americorps Job Opening at NYDIS!
The New York Interfaith Disaster Services (NYDIS) is an interfaith coalition of faith-based institutions, disaster-service agencies and charities working together to serve the long-term recovery needs of 9/11 victims and affected communities in New York and to prepare faith communities, their clergy and their agencies, through training and resource coordination, in the delivery of human services following a disaster. The Sikh Coalition is a proud Board Member of NYDIS.

NYDIS, located adjacent to ground zero in downtown Manhattan is seeking:

• Two Americorps Member Positions; these 40 hour per week AmeriCorps positions are an exciting opportunity to be part of preparing the faith communities of New York City to help all New Yorkers to be ready to respond to and recover from the next major disaster.
• Two Full-Time AmeriCorps Members to serve in our Disaster Planning Office to develop disaster resources. These 20 hour per week AmeriCorps positions are an exciting opportunity to be part of preparing the faith communities of New York City to help all New Yorkers to be ready to respond to and recover from the next major disaster.
• A full-time Americorps Member Position for the New York City Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). New York City VOAD is seeking an AmeriCorps Member volunteer to serve in the offices of the NYDIS. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of preparing the New York City community to be ready to help its people respond to and recover after the next major disaster.

Email cover letter, resume and 3 references to pgudaitis@nydis.org or fax to (212) 669-6101. All Positions begin May 31, 2005 and end April 30, 2006. For more information please contact Peter B. Gudaitis, M. Div, Executive Director and CEO at pgudaitis@nydis.org or at (212) 669- 6100.
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