The Sikh Coalition Newsletter

Justice for All - The e-Newsletter
Katik 18, 535 NanakShahi
November 2, 2003
Volume 27

Restaurant Agrees to Change Admissions Policy, Apologizes to Two Sikhs

(October 27, 2003) The owner of a restaurant and club in Illinois apologized to two Sikhs, Davinder Singh and Ipninder Singh, who were denied entry to the premises on October 9, 2003, because they refused to remove their turbans. After allowing Ipninder Singh and Davinder Singh to enter the premises, employees at the Riprocks club and restaurant in Downers Grove, Illinois, would not allow them to remain there unless they removed their turbans. The two Sikhs refused to remove their turbans and left the restaurant and club without incident.

Davinder Singh contacted the Sikh Coalition requesting help to resolve the matter. The Sikh Coalition's Legal Director sent a letter to Riprocks advising them that their refusal to serve Ipninder Singh and Davinder Singh constituted unlawful public accommodation discrimination under federal and Illinois state law. The Chicago regional office of the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group, also sent a letter to the restaurant advising them that they had violated the two Sikhs' civil rights.

The Sikh Coalition has been advised by the owner of the restuarant that Riprocks will be asking its employees to allow all those individuals who wear head coverings for religious purposes to have full access to the premises. The owner also stated that he regretted the action of his employees in denying Ipninder Singh and Davinder Singh full use of the premises.

To learn more about federal public accommodation protections, go to: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/housing/housing_title2.htm.   In addition to federal protections, each state also has statutes that protect the right of persons to freely enter a place of public accommodation.  Please contact the Sikh Coalition if you would like more information on how you can protect yourself from public accommodation discrimination.

The Coalition would like to sincerely thank the Anti-Defamation League for its assistance in this matter. 

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Sikhs Participate at Interfaith Diversity Fair in Bellvue, WA

Sessions throughout the day focused on the perspectives offered by each faith on a variety of subjects such as the essential teachings of the faith, the role of women, the concept of death and the after life and the experiences of young members of the faith.  The Sikh Coalition also presented an exhibition on the contributions of Sikh women.    Special workshops were held by youth to discuss the stereotypes and misconceptions held about each faith and about having an honest dialogue to better understand each other.  The Sikh community presented a shabad as a blessing for the event along with cultural presentations.

The Sikh Coalition would like to thank Harvinder Singh, Jasbir Kaur and all the other volunteers who contributed a great deal of effort along with the other interfaith organizations to make the event worthwhile for everyone.

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Sikh Taxi Driver Assaulted in Seattle, Washington, Coalition Expresses Concern to Seattle Police Department

(October 24, 2003)  The Sikh Coalition has expressed its concern to the Seattle Police Department regarding an assault on a Sikh cab driver.  On October 18, 2003, Harjit Singh was sitting in his parked cab in Seattle, Washington, when a man within a group of five to six men directed ethnic and religious epithets at him such as "Osama go back to your country or we will kill you."   After an exchange with the men, Harjit Singh decided to leave in his cab.  The men followed him to the first stop light and then began kicking his cab, shattering the passenger side window and removing a rearview mirror.  Harjit Singh was able to drive away from the men. 

The Sikh Coalition sent a letter to the bias crimes coordinator of the Seattle Police Department expressing its concern that the ethnic and religious epithets directed at Harjit Singh were not included in the police report, and requesting that the matter be investigated as a possible bias crime.  In addition, the Sikh Coalition has alerted the Civil Rights Division of the federal Justice Department about the incident.  The Sikh Coalition is also working with Hate Free Zone, a prominent Seattle-based civil rights organization, to ensure that the matter is fully investigated by the police.  

If you or someone you know is a victim of a hate crime, please report it to:  http://www.sikhcoalition.org/ListReports.asp.

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Coalition Meets With Mayoral Candidate's Representatives to Discuss Sikh Concerns

(October 23, 2003)  The Sikh Coalition met with the representatives of Newark, New Jersey mayoral candidate Corey Booker to discuss Sikhs civil rights concerns.   Newark is the largest city in New Jersey with a sizeable Sikh population.  Mr. Booker was the runner-up to Newark Mayor Sharp James in a closely contested election in 2002. Mr. Booker will be running again for Mayor in 2006.   The Coalition thanks Mr. Booker for his consideration of Sikh concerns.

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Kirpan in California, Coalition Participates in Meeting With California Legislators

(October 17, 2003) The Sikh Coalition met today with the offices of two members of the California Assembly to discuss restrictions placed on Sikhs from wearing the kirpan in California.  Citing examples in the United Kingdom and Canada, the Coalition proposed that legislation be passed in California that would decriminalize the wearing of the kirpan by any Sikh in California.  The Coalition would like to thank Bhajan Singh (Bhinder) for arranging the meeting with the legislator's representatives.     

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Kirpan in New Jersey, Coalition Participates in Community Gathering

(October 16, 2003) The New Jersey Attorney General's office organized a community gathering in Carteret, New Jersey to discuss the carrying of the kirpan by the Sikhs of Carteret.  Carteret has the highest concentration of Sikhs in the state. 

The Sikh Coalition participated in the event, answering residents' questions on kirpan and its significance to Sikhs.  The Sikh Coalition would like to thank the Sikhs of New Jersey, in particular Jasjit Singh of Carteret and Sutinder Singh, a member of the Governor's Ethnic Advisory Council, for engaging local and state officials in a discussion on the kirpan.

The Sikh Coalition would also like to encourage all Sikhs to wear the kirpan freely.   If you feel you have been discriminated against or are being prosecuted for wearing the kirpan, please contact the Sikh Coalition at legal@sikhcoalition.org.

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Coalition Presents Sikh Civil Rights Concerns in Woodbridge, New Jersey

(October 15, 2003) The Sikh Coalition presented basic information on Sikhism and Sikh civil rights concerns to a community meeting of approximately fifty persons in Woodbridge, New Jersey.  The meeting was organized by Ronald Spevack an attorney in Woodbridge, New Jersey and Balbir Singh a local Sikh from the area.   The Coalition would like to thank both of them for their help in organizing the event.

If you would like assistance organizing an event on Sikhism and Sikh concerns, please feel free to contact the Sikh Coalition at info@sikhcoalition.org.

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Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Shows Documentary on Sikhs, Coalition on Panel

(October 1, 2003) The Center for the Study of World Religions (CSWR) at the Harvard Divinity School showed a documentary on Sikhs in America and their civil rights concerns.  The documentary was a part of a film series, “Faces of Religion in America,” organized by Dr. Diana Eck, the acting director of CSWR and the director of the Pluralism Project.  After the conclusion of the documentary, the Coalition was invited to participate in a discussion on the impact of 9/11 on the Sikh Community.

Sikh Coalition in the News

September 11 revenge killer to die for shooting Sikh, The Guardian, October 10, 2003

Political panel discusses hate crimes, The Spectator, October 18, 2003

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 Community Notice: Coalition Produces a New Brochure on Sikhism for Non-Sikhs,  Available for Download Now

The Sikh Coalition has produced a new brochure on Sikhism for non-Sikh audiences.  The brochure explains the Sikh faith in brief and its central tenets.  This brochure may be used at educational events or other events where organizers may want to provide participants easy to understand and concise information on Sikhism.

The brochure is available for free download at: http://www.sikhcoalition.org/sikhi_brochure.pdf.

If you wish to obtain printed copies of the brochure, please send an email with your contact information to education@sikhcoalition.org.

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Community Notice: Sign Up to Receive News from the Sikh Coalition Directly to Your E-mail Address

If you would like to receive e-mail news and updates from the Sikh Coalition directly to your e-mail address, go to www.sikhcoalition.org.   A form has been setup on the left side of the website where you may submit your e-mail address to subscribe to the peiodic updates from the Coalition.

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