The Sikh Coalition Newsletter

Justice for All e-Newsletter
December 19, 2004
Volume 34

Case Update: Federal Judge Issues Protective Order in the MTA Case
On November 12, 2004, the federal magistrate judge presiding over the lawsuits against New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for its discriminatory policy towards Sikh and Muslim workers issued an order forbidding the MTA from contacting the plaintiffs without the consent of their attorneys. MTA employees had been contacting plaintiffs in the lawsuits without the knowledge of their attorneys. The judge’s order forbids this practice.

View video of SatHari Singh talking about his fight to allow Sikhs to wear turbans at the MTA.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission New York Staff Receives Training on Sikhs

On November 2, 2004, the Coalition’s Legal Director conducted a training for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) New York City staff on Sikh practices and employment discrimination concerns since September 11, 2001. The training, attended approximately fifty EEOC investigators, attorneys, and senior management personnel, was very well received, with staff members asking many spirited questions on Sikh employment concerns.

Sikh Coalition Responds to Possible Hate Crime in Chesterfield, Virginia

On November 24, 2004 a Sikh-owned gas station and convenient store was destroyed in a fire. Fortunately, no one was physically injured in the fire, but Police and fire investigators found hate messages spray painted on the premises. Along with the FBI and Department of Justice, the Chesterfield County Police Department is investigating this incident as a possible hate crime. Regional representatives of the Coalition responded by meeting with with victims, contacting county, state, and federal officials to ensure a full and proper investigation of the incident, and educating the general public through local media outlets. The Coalition will keep the community updated as this investigation continues.

Newsday Article Discusses Hate Crimes Work of Sikh Coalition

A Newsday columnist published an article on the community service of Thomas Brand on November 2, 2004. Mr. Brand was sentenced to do community service with the Sikh Coalitoin by a judge in Nassau County, New York, for assaulting Gurpreet Singh, a Sikh commuter in a bias-related attack.[Read the column]

Coalition Assists in Creation of Police Training Video

The San Jose Police Dept is creating a video on Sikhs and Sikhism in order to train their police officers.  The video covers various issues, including basic Sikh teachings, Sikh history, significance of the 5 K’s, effects of post-9/11 backlash on sikh community, and human rights. A regional representative of the Sikh Coalition was interviewed for the video in addition to a representative of the human rights organization ENSAAF. The Coalition’s representative discussed hate crimes against Sikhs, the prosecution of Sikhs for carrying their kirpan, and cultural tips in interacting with Sikhs from Punjab.

If you would like to arrange for a presentation to the police force in your city, please contact us at education@sikhcoalition.org.

Three Separate Trainings for Law Enforcement Personnel on Sikhs Held in Albany Region with Assistance of Justice Department’s Community Relations Service

In coordination with the Justice Department’s Community Relations Service, the Coalition conducted three separate training sessions for police departments in the Albany, New York region. The training sessions, held on November 9, 16, and 30, presented law enforcement officers with common Sikh practices and guidelines on engaging with Sikhs in their law enforcement capacity. The Coalition thanks Kaval Singh from Albany for conducting the trainings.

Coalition and New Jersey Division of Civil Rights Release Punjabi Translation of Division’s Anti-Discrimination Materials

In a collaborative effort to inform Sikhs living in New Jersey of their rights and protections against harassment and discrimination based on race or religion, the Sikh Coalition has translated discrimination Fact Sheets produced by the NJ Division on Civil Rights into Punjabi. The Fact Sheets explain how to file complaints and where to go to obtain further information about other services provided by the Division on Civil Rights.

To view English and Punjabi versions of the Division’s Racial Discrimination Fact Sheets, go to: [English] [Punjabi] .

To view and Punjabi versions of the Division’s Religious Discrimination Fact Sheet, go to: [English] [Punjabi]

Coalition Conducts "History of Sikhs in North America" at Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools Conference

Over two hundred teachers from the Pacific Northwest region attended a presentation on the history of Sikhs in North America in November. The forum provided teachers with an opportunity to learn about Sikhs in North America, our beliefs, and the experiences of the community post-9/11.

Coalition Conducts Diversity Training Program in Kent School District

Over the past three months, the Sikh Coalition’s educations team has conducted over half a dozen trainings on Sikhs and Sikhism to the staff, administration and the students of the Kent School District in Washington State. The focus of most of the presentation has been on the experiences of Sikh children in district schools, basic Sikh beliefs and questions related to cultural heritage. The key presentations have been to the entire leadership team of the district, which included all the school Principals, Vice Principals and the Superintendent's office, the Security Administration, Transportation Services personnel and the Diversity Task Force.

The Coalition wishes to specially acknowledge the members of the leadership team of the Kent School District and its Diversity Task Force who have made every effort to understand the changing demographics of their community and implemented a plan to stem racial discrimination. They are making every effort to train their staff in dealing with religious and cultural diversity.

The Coalition thanks to Dr. Barbara Grohe, Dr. Mark Haddock, Maya Vengadasalam, Stan Jaskot and others from the schools district and Dr. Sorena Kaur, Sarabjit Singh, Tripat Singh and Sujot Kaur who have worked on the community's behalf.

Coalition Releases New Edition of "The Sikhs" Brochure in Spanish

A second edition of the popular brochure “The Sikhs” was released by the Sikh Coalition was released last month. In addition to English the brochure is now also available in Spanish.
The brochures are available free of charge to members of the community, activists and organizations seeking to promote education about Sikhs. These can be used as a part of training different profit and non-profit organizations, government agencies, educational institutions or the general public. It is also a valuable resource for taxi cabs, gas stations, grocery stores or other businesses and professions with significant interaction with the general public.

The Coalition would like to thank the Munshi Bishan Singh Kochhar Foundation, whose generous grant made possible the production and free distribution of these brochures.

Coalition Presentation on Sikhism to Middle School Students in New York City

On November 15, 2004, a Coalition intern conducted a presentation on Sikhism to seventh grade students at the Collegiate School, a private middle school in New York City. The presentation was part of the interns training as a representative of the Sikh Coalition and the Sikh community. The Coalition thanks Radhika Kaur for making the presentation and for her work at the Coalition’s office in New York City.

Featured Sikh Student Association of the Month: Wayne State University

As a regular part of our newsletters, the Sikh Coalition will begin featuring the work and activities of Sikh Student Associations (SSAs)around the country. Sikh Student Associations and their members represent the future of our community. In the past the Coalition has worked with SSAs to provide content for presentations on Sikhism and Sikh concerns. The Coalition wishes to continue this fruitful interaction with SSAs and highlight the work of SSAs that provide a model for Sikhs.

Educational Activities

• Screening of "Mistaken Identity of Sikhs in America" on 14th April, 2003 attended by over 150 people;
• Creation and display of showcase on Sikhism at school student center from October 9 th to 13 th 2003;
• Organized Gatka demonstration attended by over three hundred people, November 25, 2003.
• Organized Nagar Kirtan and Langar, April 14, 2004. Over 300 people attended Nagar Kirtan and local news channel covered it and university paper covered it.

Community Affairs Activities

• Participation in Detroit area "Paint the Town" volunteer work, August, 9 2003;
• Participation in "Greening of Detroit" volunteer work, October 4, 2003;
• Participation in Interfaith National Day of Prayer, May 6, 2004;
• Participation in Detroit area “Paint the Town” volunteer work August 14, 2004;

Internal Development Activities

• Organized "Mark of Excellence" one day oriented towards the self-development of Sikh students while facing life’s daily challenges, October 12, 2003.
• Organized screening of 1984 remembrance screening of movie clips in local gurdwara, November 14, 2004.

Please t ell us abou the great work your Sikh Student Association is doing, or what material we can help you with.

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