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Amric Singh -
Federal Discrimination Lawsuit Against the NYPD
In March of 2003, the Coalition took a historic step on
its most high profile case, Amric Singh vs. New York Police
Department, by filing a suit in United States federal court
on behalf of Amric. The lawsuit challenges the New York
City Police Department (NYPD) for refusing to allow Amric
to serve as a traffic enforcement agent with his turban
and beard. This lawsuit represents countless hours of work
and a critical step on the journey to public recognition
of the Sikh identity.
The filing of the lawsuit resulted in unprecedented media
attention. The case received coverage from national television
stations including ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox News, local television
stations including UPN and WB, and over 15 newspapers. Newsday,
one of the larger New York City papers, printed an editorial
on the day of the lawsuit filing calling for the NYPD to
allow Sikhs into the police force.
 Since
the filing, the NYPD and the Coalition have exchanged discovery
information in preparation for trial. By judge’s order,
the discovery phase of the trial will end in June, 2004,
by which time the Coalition will file final summary judgment
motions asking the judge to decide the matter on the basis
of the evidence found during discovery.
The press conference announcing the lawsuit brought together
a contingent of Sikh police officers from Canada and Great
Britain. These officers joined Amric and stressed that the
turban did not impede their ability to perform the duties
of a police officer. Sikhs have served as police officers
in Great Britain and Canada for decades, with the support
of all levels of government. Religious leaders from the
Christian, Muslim and Buddhist faiths also attended the
press conference and publicly stated their concern that
Amric Singh was unfairly being discriminated against on
the basis of his religion. In addition, the Coalition presented
letters from police officials from other US cities welcoming
turban-wearing Sikhs to their police forces.
Excerpt from March 2003 Press Conference:
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After exhausting
all avenues to seek resolution amicably, the City
of New York has forced the Sikh Coalition to take
this matter to court. The purpose of the press briefing
is to announce the filing of a federal civil rights
lawsuit against Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly
and the New York City Police Department in the United
States District Court for the Southern District of
New York.
Amric Singh has
stated on numerous occasions, “I was fired because
I refused to give up my right as an American to practice
my religion.” Today, with the assistance of the
Sikh Coalition and its partners, Amric has filed a
lawsuit to reclaim his rights as an American and as
a Sikh under the U.S. Constitution and civil rights
laws of our country. It is our hope that one day Sikh-Americans
will be able to proudly serve as police officers in
New York, the most diverse metropolis of this world.
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View Complete Amric Singh Coverage
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"I would
like things to change for…. Sikhs all over this
country, We're like the first pilgrims looking for
the right to religion, the right to choose. If we
have to choose either our work or our religion then
this is not a place for everyone."
-Amric Singh (Rathour)
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