Learn English through We Are New York

In collaboration with the City of New York, the Sikh Coalition is launching English Language Discussion groups in Richmond Hill Queens. Classes take place every Sundays at 3pm at the Mukhan Shah Lobana Gurdwara in Richmond Hill, Queens. For further information on the classes, please contact Tejpreet Kaur at tejpreet@sikhcoalition.org.

Harassment in New York City Schools

On September 3, 2008, Michael Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein announced Chancellor’s Regulation A-832, which established a procedure for addressing bias-based harassment, intimidation and bullying in schools. The urgent need for the regulation stemmed from the high number of Sikh students being harassed and bullied in NYC schools. The regulation affected 1.1 million students in New York City and includes a comprehensive definition and prohibition of biased based harassment. The regulation also outlines clear reporting procedures, requires prompt investigation of harassment reports and mandatory training on biased-based harassment and the “Respect for All” diversity training for all students and staff annually.

Backlash Mitigation Bill

After September 11, there was an increase in hate-crimes committed against Arabs, Muslims, Sikhs and South Asians. The New York Attorney General’s office reported that crimes that targeted Middle Easterners quintupled in 2001. Such backlash is preventable. Local governments can take measures to mitigate this violence by, for example, identifying groups likely to be targeted, building relationships with community and religious leaders, airing public service announcements condemning violence and threatening strict prosecution, and training police officers to identify hate crimes. The creation of a backlash mitigation plan falls squarely within the responsibility and expertise of the Office of Emergency Management (“OEM”). However, OEM has not yet addressed the predictable and preventable problem of backlash crimes. This bill directs OEM to create a backlash mitigation plan in consultation with the relevant city agencies and community groups, to be implemented as needed by the NYPD and other city agencies identified by OEM.

Making Our Voices Heard: A Civil Rights Agenda for New York City Sikhs

The Sikh Coalition released a Civil Rights Agenda on April 14, 2008 along with an accompanying report on Sikh civil right concerns in New York. The agenda and report were the result of more than a year surveys by the Sikh Coalition of over 1,000 Sikhs in New York City. The groundreaking report, "Making Our Voices Heard: A Civil Rights Agenda for New York City Sikhs," presents data from over 1,000 surveys conducted by the Sikh Coalition on Sikhs' experiences living in New York City. The report makes a clear case that there is a large gap between the promise of the law and the experience of the Sikh community in New York.

Sikh Career Day