The Sikh Coalition Newsletter

Justice for All - The Weekly Newsletter
Bhadon 24, 534 NanakShahi
September 8, 2002
Volume 14

Coalition to Say Sikh Prayer at United Nations Interfaith Service on Sept. 11
Harpreet Singh, Director of Community Relations for The Sikh Coalition will recite a Sikh prayer at a ceremony marking the opening of the 57th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Special guests include:

• President of the General Assembly Mr. Jan Kavan
• Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Mrs. Nane Annan
• September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows

The ceremony is dedicated to victims of violence everywhere.

Coalition Works with Local Community to Dismiss Kirpan Case
Hargian Singh was arrested by the Menomonee Falls Police Department in Wisconsin and brought up on weapons charges for wearing the kirpan, a Sikh article of faith. The Wisconsin community contacted The Sikh Coalition regarding the case requesting help. The Coalition responded by issuing a letter on behalf of Sirdar Hargian Singh, along with educational material on the Kirpan, literature on the Sikh articles of faith, and legal precedents involving Kirpan cases. Due to the vigilance of the local Wisconsin community, the judge found the charge to be humorous and immediately dismissed the violation in a court action on 8/29/02. The judge also apologized to Hargian Singh for any inconvenience he endured. The local community plans to deliver educational presentations to the police dept in Menomonee Falls and other suburbs in the Milwaukee area to ensure that they are educated on the Sikh faith. This case, combined with numerous other Coalition defenses of the kirpan, serves as an example that Sikhs can freely practice their faith without compromise.

Excerpts from the letter sent to the judge:

....Because the kirpan is an article of faith, Sikhs carrying kirpans must not be charged with crimes. Like the prosecutor in Providence and the court in New York v. Pratap Singh, it is requested that the criminal charges against Mr. Singh be dismissed.

There are over 26 million Sikhs worldwide . . . They are a peaceful and law-abiding people that have always held the police and law enforcement agencies in the highest regard. As has been documented in hundreds of news articles since September 11, this lack of knowledge about this major world religion has resulted in Sikhs sometimes becoming the victims of unlawful profiling, and having, in words of a The New York Times news article, to "pay a price for [their] turbans." Because of this backlash, community and political leaders across the country, including the President and the U.S. Congress have called on all Americans to specifically respect the civil liberties of Sikhs.

Sikhs across the country are watching the resolution of this matter with great concern. It is requested that this unfortunate matter end here with the dismissal of charges against Mr. Singh. The Sikh Coalition also requests that a directive or a memorandum be issued to all local police officers and prosecutors on the religious significance of the kirpan with instructions to not charge Sikhs for carrying one...

Sikh Community and The Coalition Remember Balbir Singh Sodhi
As part of the "Embracing Diversity" campaign supported by many Sikh advocacy groups and the family of Balbir Singh, The Coalition requests all Gurdwaras to remember Balbir Singh (Sodhi) during divaan on Sunday, September 15th. Balbir Singh’s death was the first hate-motivated fatality in the U.S. after September 11th. Our community is trying to combat this hate with education, compassion and tolerance. We must use this loss to strengthen our resolve to become better Sikhs and create awareness about the need to take a stand against prejudice. The Sikh Coalition has created materials and information to support these events. Please see Upcoming Events section for more information.

Coalition, Sikh Communications and Kaur Foundation Sponsor 9/11 Memorial Event in Washington DC
The Kaur Foundation and The Sikh Coalition, in collaboration with the Sikh Communications Council, have invited Dr. Navinderdeep Singh Nijher to share his experiences at ground zero with both the Sikh and non-Sikh communities in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Dr. Nijher, recipient of the 2001 Sikh Coalition Spirit of Humanity Award, set up the first triage at ground zero that helped save lives after the 9/11 attacks in New York City. This is an excellent opportunity to show the public that Sikhs are true Americans. Dr. Nijher's Washington visit was arranged as part of Dr. Nijher's nationwide tour, which is being organized by Sikh Communications Council.Please join us for a press conference and a special dinner in honor of Dr. Nijher on Tuesday evening from 7:45 - 10:00 at the residence of Birendar Singh. To help meet the expenses of Dr. Nijher's nationwide tour, contributions of $100, $150 or $200 per couple are welcome.

Dinner location: 9304 Belle TerrePotomac, MD 20854

For more information, call 301.767.0311.

The Coalition Reverses Discrimination Policy in Richmond, VA
It was recently brought to the attention of the Sikh Coalition that a well-known restaurant and lounge in Richmond, VA, has consistently prohibited Sikhs from entering with their turbans under its "No Hats" policy. This policy has effected Sikh men in the Richmond community periodically over the past two years, although the incidence of discrimination has been more pronounced following 9/11. The Sikh Coalition visited the restaurant to address its management regarding this policy. After explaining the significance of the turban as an article of faith and advising that if the discriminatory policy was not immediately reversed, the Coalition would proceed with a lawsuit, the restaurant apologized and reversed its policy. The Coalition intends to follow-up with educational materials and has offered to provide an educational presentation for the restaurant staff in the coming weeks.

Denial of Access to Service: Sikh Asked to Remove Turban for a Urine Test
Amrik Singh Khakh appeared before Sierra Occupational Services (SOS) in Stockton, California on March 1, 2002 for the purposes of obtaining a drug test in the form of a urine test to be submitted to his employer. The necessity of the drug test was to qualify Amrik Singh for commercial vehicle insurance to be provided by his employer as mandated by the State of California. During the proceeding to obtain the drug test, a female assistant asked Amrik Singh to remove his turban. Turban is a religious requirement for the Sikhs and, therefore, Amrik Singh refused to remove it. The female assistant demanded that the turban be removed. What removal of one's turban has to do with a urine test was not explained.

Amrik Singh thereafter provided an alternative solution that he remove himself to the restroom facilities where a male person could be with him and in that setting he would remove the turban. His request was denied by the assistant.

Amrik Singh discriminated against and repulsed by the unacceptable demand of Sierra Occupational Services requiring him to remove his religiously mandated turban withdrew himself from Sierra facility. Subsequently, Sierra Occupational Services reported to State of California and to Amric Singh's employer that he was a commercial truck driver who refused a drug test. The report has been received by his employer and his insurance benefits have been denied. As a result thereof, Amric Singh is experiencing significant damage.

Nirvair Singh has been representing The Sikh Coalition in California to work with Sierra to correct it erroneous records and to conduct Amrik Singh's drug test while recognizing that the turban is a Sikh article of faith that cannot be removed for a drug test of this nature. So far Sierra has not been receptive. Once all alternatives are exhausted, the Coalition is likely to take a legal action against Sierra.

University of Illinois and Coalition host Sikh Student Retreat
The University of Illinois Sikh Student Associaition will be hosting a Sikh Student retreat from September 27th-29th. The retreat theme will focus on the one year anniversary of September 11th and it's impact on Sikhs as well as general Sikh ideology and practice. Register online and for more information or any questions, please contact Natasha Kaur at natasha@cyzap.com or at 312-355-8740.

Attorney General Announces First Implementation of Registration System
Attorney General John Ashcroft announced that the first phase of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) will be implemented by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) at selected ports of entry throughout the United States on September 11, 2002.
After an initial 20-day period for testing and evaluating the system at selected ports of entry, all remaining ports of entry -- including land, air and sea -- will have the new system in place on October 1, 2002.... more information

Community Call for Personal 9/11 Stories
The Sikh Coalition is working with various media outlets across the country to ensure the Sikh community's voice hits the newsstands to reflect and remember 9/11, specifically how it has impacted human lives. We want to ensure a diverse (men, women, first generation, second generation) yet collective "Sikh" voice weaves through media stories in the first few weeks of September. That means we want to hear from you - your story(ies), feelings, and reflections. We want a thoughtful analysis of how you or someone in the Sikh community has been impacted by 9/11.We are looking for two types of stories:9/11 Impact Stories Acknowledging Acts of Courage Submissions should be about 400-600 words in length. Stories can be submitted in any of the following 3 ways:1. Submit your story using our online form, which can be accessed from here.2. Fill out the content guidelines outlined here and mail to personalstories@sikhcoalition.org. Please explicitly state which category your story falls under.3. If you do not want to write the experience out but would rather talk to us, just send us an email at the above address and we will contact you.

Update: Amric Singh Discrimination Charge Against the NYPD
Amric Singh Rathour, a Sikh from Queens, applied for and was granted a position as an officer in the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Shortly thereafter, he was told that he would be required to wear an 8-point hat and trim his beard, as per NYPD uniform regulations. Amric refused to do so because the regulations conflicted with his religious requirements as a Sikh to wear a turban and keep an uncut beard. Shortly thereafter, he was terminated from his position with the NYPD. [details]

On June 10, 2002, Amric Singh and The Sikh Coalition filed a charge with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleging that the NYPD's uniform policy, as applied to Sikhs, constitutes unlawful religious discrimination. The NYPD has recently declined a request from the EEOC to attempt to mediate this dispute, and consequently, the EEOC is currently undergoing an investigation to determine whether the NYPD's policy is in violation of Amric's rights under federal law.

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