Councilman Weprin introduces the two bills

( New York, NY) February 16, 2005 – The Sikh Coalition, New York City Councilman David Weprin (D-Queens), and a coalition of New York City-based ethnic, religious, interfaith, immigrant and civil rights organizations gathered on the steps of City Hall today to announce the introduction of two City Council bills.

The first bill will ban discrimination in city agencies on the basis of religious headdress, such as the turban or hijab. The second bill will require the city to create a plan to mitigate backlash hate violence in the face of catastrophic public emergencies, such as September 11, 2001.

The Sikh Coalition, in partnership with Councilman David Weprin, initiated and led the effort to have the bills introduced in the City Council. Over the past four months the Sikh Coalition has convened meetings with the city’s leading civil rights, immigrants’ rights, South Asian, Arab and Muslim organizations to develop the bills in its New York City office. If passed, these two bills will be the first of their kind ever to be instituted in the United States.

The first bill would ensure that Sikhs working in New York City (NYC) agencies will never again be forced to choose between their jobs and their turbans or other religious head coverings. This is the choice that the New York Police Department (NYPD) put before two traffic enforcement agents in 2001 when it fired them forrefusing to remove their turbans. Just last year, another city agency, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), told Sat Hari Singh he would be removed from his job if he did not stop wearing his turban. This bill would not only prevent such incidents from happening in the future, it would also send a strong message discouraging religious discrimination by private employers.In addition to this New York City Bill, the Sikh Organization of New York is currently working to get a similar measure, protecting the Dastaar, passed in New York State Assembly.

The second bill would require NYC to create a plan aimed at reducing backlash violence against minorities in the wake of emergency events. The backlash mitigation measures would be included as part of the city’s Emergency Response Plan, which is instituted after a catastrophic event such as a terrorist attack. After 9/11, Sikh-Americans encountered unprecedented levels of bias crimes ranging from beatings and murders to employment discrimination. The highest levels of hate crimes occurred in the days and weeks immediately following 9/11. This bill would ensure that if another such tragedy occurred, law enforcement and other city agencies would be better prepared to respond instantaneously to stem backlash and violence against Sikhs and other minorities.

“We thank Councilman Weprin for his leadership and foresight in taking measures that will prevent discrimination and make the city safer for all New Yorkers.” said Prabhjot Singh, the Sikh Coalition’s acting Executive Director. “We are hopeful the measures will become law in New York and will work with other communities to enact similar measures across the country.”

Thus far 12 out the New York City Council’s 50 council members have cosponsored the bills. In the coming weeks and months, the Coalition will lead lobbying efforts to garner support for the bills. In conjunction with the efforts of the community and our partner organizations, we look forward to securing this historic victory for the Sikh and other religious communities!

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!

 

Sikh Community - History in the Making

In the past several years the Coalition has fought for the legal rights of more Sikhs in America than any Sikh organization in history. Yet legal action is only a part of the solution. By working with government, we can educate policy makers to create laws that prevent discrimination. With Guru's grace, for the first time in the history of Sikhs in the United States, we can accomplish this goal. Success in New York will allow us to replicate these great achievements across the nation.

• View Dastaar Legislation
• View Backlash Mitigation Bill

View Details on the New York City Bills

TV and Print media cover the introduction of the Bills

Council Members Who Are Co-Sponsors

• David Weprin
• David Yassky
• James F. Gennaro
• Letitia James
• Leroy G. Comrie, Jr.
• Annabel Palma
• John C. Liu
• Gale Brewer
• Bill Perkins
• Margarita Lopez

New York City Organizational Endorsers of the Bills

• The Sikh Coalition
• Archdeacon Michael S. Kendall, The Episcopal Diocese of New York
• Coalition For Asian American Children and Families
• Council on American-Islamic Relations – New York
• Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
• Islamic Circle of North America
• Islamic Leadership Council of NY
• Harlem Imams Shura
• Legal Access Network for South Asians
• Muslim Alliance in North America
• Muslim Consultative Network
• New Immigrant Community Empowerment
• New York Immigration Coalition
• New York Disaster Interfaith Services
• South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow
• South Asian Bar Association of New York
• The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood
• United Methodist Committee on Relief
• Women in Islam, Inc.
• Alt Muslims.com
• Shobak.org