SALDEF Advocate: FBI Director Learns About Sikh American Concerns
Jesmesh Singh Jassal
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SALDEF Advocate
July 17, 2008
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SALDEF Meets with FBI Director Robert Mueller
Turban Under Scrutiny at American Airport
SALDEF Partners with Rock the Vote
SALDEF Files Class-Action Lawsuit Against Walt Disney World Company
SALDEF Meets with New Federal Immigration Director
SALDEF Discusses Religious Discrimination with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
SALDEF Meets with United Nations Special Rapporteur on Racism
Massachusetts Business Removes Image of Guru Nanak Dev Ji on their Website
Educational Outreach and Trainings
Legal Updates
Upcoming Events
SALDEF Meets with FBI Director Robert Mueller
In our continued engagement with the highest levels of the U.S.
Government, SALDEF met with FBI Director Robert Mueller to discuss
issues affecting the Sikh American community. SALDEF was the only Sikh
American organization present at the June 24th meeting. The discussion
involved dialogue about terrorism, hate crimes, community engagement,
and recruitment. The meeting was a candid discussion about the state
of FBI community engagement activities and the government's efforts to
protect our families and children.
Turban Under Scrutiny at American Airport
A Sikh American man was told to remove his religiously mandated
dastaar (turban) due to an alleged "TSA [Transportation Security
Administration] imposed increased screening scrutiny" during the July
4th holiday travel weekend. The traveler (name withheld) informed the
screeners of his rights and was given the options afforded by the TSA
protocol.
SALDEF has contacted TSA and Department of Homeland Security officials
to highlight this incident and also to determine whether there was in
fact any such increased scrutiny this past weekend at the nation's
airports.
Additionally, SALDEF requests that you please document your screening
experience so we may continue to inform TSA if their protocols are
being followed.
SALDEF Partners with Rock the Vote
In preparation for the November 2008 Federal elections, SALDEF has
partnered with Rock the Vote to increase voter registration of members
of the Sikh American Community. This effort is the first of many
SALDEF is taking to increase the political engagement of Sikhs across
the United States.
Voting is the hallmark of a viable democracy and SALDEF encourages all
Sikhs to register to vote to ensure our voice is heard by this
nation's leaders.
If you are not registered the vote and would like to, please visit our website.
SALDEF Files Class-Action Lawsuit Against Walt Disney World Company
On June 16, 2008 SALDEF filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Mr.
Sukhbir Channa and the Sikh American community for alleged religious
discrimination.
Mr. Channa, a practicing Sikh American, applied for a job with Disney
in the Fall of 2006 but was not hired and was told that he did not
have the "Disney look" - a rejection of his religiously-mandated
dastaar (Sikh turban). The lawsuit, filed by Matthew Sarelson of the
law firm of Sarelson, P.A., an attorney specializing in employment
discrimination law, seeks financial damages of US $1 million and a
court order barring Disney from ever discriminating against
prospective Sikh employees.
To stay current with this case please visit: www.saldef.org
SALDEF Meets with New Federal Immigration Director
On May 27, 2008 SALDEF met with acting USCIS Director Jonathan
Scharafen to discuss naturalization and green card delays - an issue
effecting thousands of people in the United States.
Progress on the delays has been made; however much work continues to
be necessary. If you have any questions about the immigration delays
or any of the information above, please contact us at
immig...@saldef.org.
SALDEF Discusses Religious Discrimination with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
On June 16, 2008 SALDEF met with EEO Commission members, Stuart
Ishamaru and Christine Griffin to discuss the rise of religious
discrimination and the role the agency can play in combating such acts
of discrimination.
SALDEF discussed issues of maintaining the Sikh identity in the
workplace, wearing the kirpan and other articles of faith, as well as
Sikhs who are denied employment due to OSHA regulations and other
"safety and security" protocols.
SALDEF Meets with United Nations Special Rapporteur on Racism
On June 5, 2008 SALDEF met with the United Nations Special Rapporteur
on Racism as he toured the United States. SALDEF discussed employment
discrimination against Sikhs, profiling of Sikhs at US airports,
school bullying, multi cultural education, and hate crimes.
The information the UN Special Rapporteur has found will be compiled
in a document which is expected to be released within the next year.
Massachusetts Business Removes Image of Guru Nanak Dev Ji on their Website
In June, SALDEF wrote to Closet Solution's, a small business based out
of Massachusetts, to inform them of the inappropriate use of a well
known and widely accepting painting of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder
of the Sikh religion.
Within days of the letter, the business removed the image and replaced
it with another image. SALDEF thanks the management of Closet
Solutions for immediately addressing this issue that caused concern
for many Sikhs in the Massachusetts area and the greater Northeast.
Educational Outreach and Trainings
On April1 6, 2008 SALDEF conducted a Sikh American Awareness Training
for 65 City and Municipal Police Chiefs from across the State of
Maryland. This training program was a tremendous opportunity for
SALDEF's education program to reach out to law enforcement leaders
across Maryland, and lay the seeds for future collaboration and
partnerships.
On June 13, 2008 SALDEF, in partnership with South Asian Americans
Leading Together (SAALT) and the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource
Center (APALRC), conducted a presentation for over 50 Washington-DC
employees regarding South Asian culture.
On June 28, 2008 SALDEF conducted a Sikh American Awareness Training
for 50 law enforcement officials in Topeka, Kansas. The training was
attended by the FBI, Topeka City Police, Kansas State Police, and
representatives from many other law enforcement agencies.
Click here for more information on SALDEF's training efforts.
Legal Updates
Since January, SALDEF has received 65 requests for legal assistance of
which SALDEF has accepted 40 to engage with. These cases involve broad
issues from immigration and naturalization, DMV concerns, violations
involving the right wear a kirpan, and the denial of entry of a Sikh
simply due to his daastar. Unfortunately, SALDEF's limited resources
do not allow us to take on all the cases we receive as we wish we
could. We need your support to ensure all members of the Sikh
community receive the support they need when our faith is under
attack.
Click here to support SALDEF's efforts in protecting and advocating
for the Sikh American community.
Upcoming Events
Law Enforcement Training - Howard County, MD
July 16, 2008
Metropolitan DC Police Department Award Ceremony Honoring SALDEF -
Washington, DC
July 22, 2008
Camp Gian - Los Angeles, CA
August 10-15th, 2008
Contact SALDEF
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)
1413 K St, NW, 5th floor | Washington, DC 20005
phone: 202-393-2700 | fax: 202-318-3344
www.saldef.org | in...@saldef.org
About SALDEF
Founded in 1996, SALDEF is the largest and oldest Sikh American civil
rights and educational organization dedicated to protecting and
promoting the civil rights of Sikh Americans through legal aid,
advocacy and educational outreach. SALDEF's mission is to create a
fostering environment in the United States for future generations of
Sikh Americans.