[SMART] NEWSLETTER :: The SMART Advocate -- 1/23/2004
SMART Announcements
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MEDIAWATCH: SMART Responds to New York Times' Editorial on Proposed French Legislation to Ban Religious Symbols Following French President Jacques Chirac's support of legislation banning religious symbols in public, SMART recently responded to an editorial in the New York Times. SMART's Office of Media Relations stated: "Your editorial staff conducted sound analysis about the misguided approach France is taking to achieve its goal of religious neutrality." The letter continued to state: "In the quest to separate church and state, Mr. Chirac's support of policies restricting religious expression is exacerbating religious bigotry in France. As a result, followers of multiple faiths find themselves having to defend their religious beliefs and practices. As you may well be aware, Sikhs are required to wear a turban as part of their code of conduct laid down by the Sikh Gurus. Sikh soldiers fought with turbans in both of the World Wars and many of them died fighting alongside their allies. To force Sikhs to remove their turbans as 'conspicuous' religious symbols is, as you accurately stated, "imposing the view of the state upon them." To read the New York Times editorial, please click here: http://www.sikhmediawatch.org/news/newsdetail.asp?newsid=598 To view SMART's Community Advisory about a demonstration against these policies, please click here : http://www.sikhmediawatch.org/press/pressdetail.asp?pressid=64
SMART Meets with Assistant Attorney General, Participates in FBI Working Group In the last several weeks, SMART has met with senior officials at the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies. These meetings have involved discussions about no-fly lists and training federal employees to ensure awareness of the Sikh articles of faith. During these meetings, SMART was assured that the Transportation Security Administration, which now oversees approximately 45,000 airport screeners, is using its resources to train current and new employees. Furthermore, since September 11, 2001, SMART has been part of a small working group headed by FBI Director Robert Muller, that meets regularly to address hate crimes and other law enforcement related issues of concern to the Sikh, Arab, and Muslim American communities. Although recent statistics indicate a reduction in the number of hate crimes, SMART is aware that many of these incidents go unreported with in our own community. Therefore, SMART will continue to work with the law enforcement and Sikh community to report, investigate, and prosecute hate crimes across the U.S.
COPS Invites SMART to Present at National Law Enforcement Gathering The U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) recently invited SMART to present its Sikhism 101 for Law Enforcement training program as part of its annual conference in Kansas City, MO. SMART's National Director Preetmohan Singh presented the curriculum introducing law enforcement officials to the Sikh faith and its articles of faith. The audience included representatives from police departments, community-based organizations, and other faith groups from across the nation involved with the COPS program. This curriculum has already been presented to over 4,000 law enforcement officials, with over 90 percent of them stating that it will help them better perform their duties. SMART is working with COPS to further expand this training to increase effective partnerships between the law enforcement and Sikh communities nationally.
Public's Truth Report Released, SMART Featured Prominently in Publication The Applied Research Center recently
released the report of their third "The Public's Truth" event held in
Santa Clara, CA. SMART co-sponsored and presented at the event, which was
a forum for community members of different races, colors and religions to
communicate with legislators and civic officials about the ill-effects
they have endured since 9/11. Speakers at the event shared their personal
experiences of direct harassment and discrimination they faced from law
enforcement, airport security, workplace supervisors and immigration
officials. SMART's representative, who is featured in the report,
discussed the Sikh community's response to hate crimes. The Applied
Research Center is a public policy, educational and research institute
whose work emphasizes issues of race and social change. The report titled "Stories of Racial Profiling & The Attack on Civil Liberties" is available at: http://www.sikhmediawatch.org/attachments/SantaClara__The_Public_Truth_report.pdf .
Religious Leaders Learn about Sikhism in California SMART Representative Tejinder Singh recently conducted the Sikhism 101: An Introduction to Sikh Culture, Practices and Beliefs for a dozen members of the Tri City Ministerial Association at its monthly meeting in Fremont, CA. The TCMA is a group of ministers and religious leaders in the San Francisco Bay Area that work together to carry out interfaith events and support each other's religious centers. SMART also talked with the TCMA members about possible in-house workshops at their respective houses of worship.
2004 Pocket Calendars Featuring Sikhs Being Distributed Nationally In order to introduce non-Sikhs to Sikh Americans, SMART has begun distribution of its pocket-sized 2004 calendars. On one side, these full-color calendars include images of Sikhs, along with core Sikh values and facts about Sikhs in the United States; the other side has the 2004 calendar and includes SMART's phone number and web site for reference. These calendars are ideal for distribution by community members at their workplace, community meetings, senior citizen centers, convenience stores, gas stations, and through cab drivers. SMART is currently distributing the cards in quantities of 100 for $10 plus shipping. You can view the calendar online at: http://www.sikhmediawatch.org/attachments/Pocket_2004_Calendar_Proof.pdf To order the 2004 Calendar and other SMART publications, please complete and mail the order form along with a check made out to "SMART".
Internship Opportunities for College Students on Capitol Hill The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) is currently accepting applications from college students for its summer internship program. The APAICS internship program encourages the political and civic involvement of young Asian Pacific Islander American, fosters their interest in careers in politics and public policy, and develops their leadership skills. SMART has worked with APAICS in the past and encourages Sikh American students to apply for this program, which includes a $2,500 stipend. Every year, APAICS selects ten to twelve students for a first-hand
learning experience in American politics. Interns work in congressional
offices, federal agencies, and non-profit organizations in Washington DC.
Placements last summer included three offices in the House of
Representatives, the Congressional Research Service, the Department of
Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Labor, the U.S.
Commission on Civil Rights, and the National League of Cities. Through a
series of seminars, they learn about national Asian Pacific Islander
American advocacy organizations and network with peers from the
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and the Congressional Black Caucus
Foundation.
College Students Encouraged to Participate in Leadership Trainings SMART is encouraging Sikh students across the United States to participate in the 5th Annual Series of Leadership Trainings Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) college students. The mission of these leadership trainings is to provide APIA students an environment to develop leadership and organizing skills that are relevant to them, their campuses and their communities. The 1-1/2 day training will bring together students throughout the region to share experiences and develop tools to effectively serve as a catalyst for change and activism. These free trainings are being underwritten organized by the Organization of Chinese Americans, with whom SMART has a strong working relationship. To register online, please go to OCA's website at: http://www.ocanatl.org/bin/htmlos/00255.2.1433198339700015158.
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Sikh
Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART)
1331 H Street, NW, 11th
Floor
Washington, DC
20005
Tel :
202-393-2700 / 877-91-SIKHS
Fax :
202-318-4433
Email : in...@sikhmediawatch.org
© 2004 Sikh Mediawatch and
Resource Task Force (SMART). All Rights Reserved.
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