Who We Are
For 20 years, the Sikh Coalition has defended Sikh civil liberties in the community, courtrooms, classrooms, and halls of Congress.
Whether it’s working to secure safer schools, prevent hate and discrimination, create equal employment opportunities, or empower local Sikh communities, the Sikh Coalition’s goal is working towards a world where Sikhs, and other religious minorities in America, may freely practice their faith without bias and discrimination.
The Sikh Coalition is a national community-based organization with offices and staff in New York City, California (Bay Area and Los Angeles), Washington D.C., and Chicago with over one hundred volunteer community advocates working to protect Sikh civil rights across the United States.
The Sikh Coalition is a nonprofit and nonpartisan. Our funding comes from grants, private foundations, and individual donors. We receive no funding from any government agencies or institutions.
Mission and Values
Through the community, courtrooms, classrooms, and halls of Congress, we are working towards a world where Sikhs, and other religious minorities in America, may freely practice their faith without bias and discrimination.
We strive to do this with a commitment to truth (sach) and service (seva), while knowing that our work is an unrelenting struggle (sangarsh) that requires perseverance over years and even decades. We will always strive to do the right thing, even when it is not easy, clear, or quick to reach that conclusion.
How We Do Our Work
The Sikh Coalition’s work is carried out at the local, state, and federal levels. We employ our Legal, Policy, and Community Development programs, which are supported by our Media and Communications department.
Our Legal Program primarily litigates matters that address bias and discrimination. These areas include school bullying, hate crimes, and high-impact cases of workplace discrimination. Our Policy Program works to ensure laws and administrative regulations embody fundamental human rights, and is then scaled to meet the needs of the Sikh community at the local, state and federal levels. Our Community Development Program works to foster civil engagement in order to promote local community empowerment. All of this work continues with the broader goal of educating Americans about the Sikh faith, community and traditions to combat bigotry and discrimination.
The Sikh Coalition also enjoys strong collaborative relationships with numerous organizations with respect to local, state, and federal civil rights concerns. We partner with pro-bono counsel on legal cases and continue to strengthen interfaith partnerships and collaborations with like-minded advocacy organizations.
Why This Work Matters
The Sikh Coalition is often the first and only line of defense for Sikh civil rights in America. We serve as an insurance policy for those who would otherwise not have their rights protected, while working to secure a more just and tolerant society for Sikh American generations to come.