#1. NEW YORK: SIKHS DEMONSTRATE TO DEMAND PROTECTION FOR KIDS IN SCHOOLS
NEW YORK CITY: Hundreds of Sikhs, stung by two recent incidents of hate crimes against Sikh public school students, marched through the streets of Richmond Hill, Queens on Monday to protest attacks on Sikh children in city schools. The march, estimated by police to number over 300 people, included a large contingent from Boston and Sikhs from New Jersey, Maryland, and North Carolina.
On June 9, Gurprit Kaur, a student at Public School 219 in Flushing, Queens, discovered that another student had cut off a portion of her religiously-mandated uncut hair and discarded it. This is the second major attack on Sikh public school student in June. On June 3, Jagmohan Singh Premi was punched in the face after a student intentionally attempted to remove his patka (smaller turban).at Richmond Hill High School. In addition, during May 2007 a Sikh boy's hair was forcibly cut by another student in a hate crime.
The march started from the Sikh Cultural Society Gurudwara, picked up more marchers at the Baba Makhan Shah Lubana Gurudwara, and then ended seven blocks later at Richmond Hill High School the site of the attack on Jagmohan Singh Premi. Sikhs home and business owners in Richmond Hill even joined the march as it passed their homes.
The Sikh Coalition has found that Sikh children are particularly vulnerable to bias-based harassment. This past April, the Sikh Coalition released a civil rights report, "Making Our Voices Heard: A Civil Rights Agenda for New York City Sikhs," which found that more than 60% of over 400 Sikh students that the Coalition surveyed had suffered bias-based harassment or violence in city schools.
While the Sikh community continues to express grave concerns about the safety of its children in city schools, the Department of Education and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein is beginning to appropriately respond to the problem of bias-based bullying against all children in city schools. On June 6, Klein personally expressed regret to Jagmohan Singh Premi, the victim of a bias-based attack at Richmond Hill High School.
In addition, on June 6, Klein announced that he had recently ordered "the drafting of a new Chancellor's regulation that incorporates recommendations from the Sikh Coalition." Klein also said on June 6 that the department will "distribute an anti-bias brochure to every middle and high school student in the City that defines harassment, advises students of their rights, and outlines appropriate actions in response to acts of harassment." In addition, Klein said that the department will expand its "incident reporting system to comprehensively track bias-related incidents in our schools beginning in September."
The Sikh Coalition commends the Department of Education and Klein for pledging to create a system to monitor and address incidents of bias-based bullying in city schools. This announcement by the Chancellor, while short of the protections called for in the Dignity in All Schools Act (passed by the City Council in 2004), is a major step forward in the fight to protect all students from biased-based harassment in city schools.
Nevertheless, the Sikh Coalition calls on the Department of Education to enact a plan to protect Sikh children specifically from bias-based harassment in city schools. It is the Sikh community's intent to continue marching in larger and larger numbers until steps are taken to protect Sikh children in particular from bias-based harassment.
Based on the Sikh Coalition's April civil rights report, which surveyed over 400 Sikh children, and found that more than half suffered bias-based harassment, it is clear that Sikh children need particular help to overcome ignorance in city schools. The Sikh Coalition calls on the Department of Education to inform and train teachers on the particular dangers faced by Sikh students. The Coalition also calls on the Department to teach students about Sikhs and Sikh concerns in order to reduce bias and bigotry.
Council Member John C. Liu, a member of the Council's Education Committee, stated: "The Department of Education's continuing inaction in the face of repeated bias attacks in our public schools is utterly reprehensible. The recent assault on Gurprit Kaur and other students is outrageous, not only because of the bigotry and hate involved, but because the DOE refuses to acknowledge the magnitude of this persistent problem. Just weeks ago, Jagmohan Singh Premi was physically assaulted after being taunted about his faith, and Harpal Singh Vacher was attacked in a similar assault a year ago. In both cases, the DOE ignored warning signs and pleas for help from the victimized students. By turning a blind eye towards harassment in public schools, the DOE has failed to provide a secure learning environment and is putting our students in peril. In this case, the DOE is as culpable as the individual who actually perpetrated this attack against Gurprit."
The Coalition thanked the Sikh Cultural Society Gurudwara and Baba Makhan Shah Lubana Gurdwara for steadfastly supporting the march and rallying sangat members to the join the march. The Coalition also thanked Desis Rising Up and Moving and the Council on American Islamic Relations - New York who both spoke at the march and the New York Civil Liberties Union for providing legal observers for the march. In addition, the Coalition acknowledged Jus Punjabi TV for covering the lead up to the march. The Coalition also thanked the other march cosponsors: Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, New York Immigration Coalition, New Immigrant Community Empowerment, Coalition for Asian American Families and Children, Sikh Center of Flushing, and United Sikhs. The Sikh Coalition particularly thanked Council Member John Liu for continuing to stand with the community.
(From the Sikh Coalition)
#2. BELGIUM: COURT OVERTURNS BAN ON SIKH HEADCOVERING IN SCHOOL
HASSELT, Belgium - The Hasselt Civil Court has overturned a ban on the patka, a Sikh head covering, which was imposed by a state school, KTA Domein Speelhof, on five Sikh schoolboys in 2005.
The court said that the ban on the religious head covering was a violation of the Sikh students' right to manifest their religion under article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, of which Belgium is a signatory.
In a judgment, Judge Madam H. Coenen said that by excluding young people because of their religious beliefs the Domein Speelhof school in St. Truiden had violated their right to practice their faith.
On May 26, the Hasselt court heard evidence that in 2005, KTA Domein Speelhof school, that had previously allowed Sikh students to wear the patka, had introduced a uniform rule banning the wearing of any headdress, including the patka, which affected five Sikh schoolboys, Pawandeep Singh, 18, Jaswant Singh, 20, Parminder Singh, 17, Harjeet Singh, 14, and Sukhdeep Singh, 16.
"The Court has sent a clear message that it is illegal for a school to deny education to a student because of his religious belief," said Walter Van Steenbrugge, the lawyer hired by United Sikhs and the Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Belgium to represent the five Belgian Sikh schoolboys.
"Unlike France, there is no law in Belgium that bans religious signs in schools, yet the school in question had imposed the ban in the name of a school uniform policy that banned any head covering," said Mejindarpal Kaur, United Sikhs legal director who had been dealing with this case since 2005.
"This judgment proves that Belgium respects freedom of religion and will not tolerate a ban on religious signs in schools in the name of a uniform policy. We applaud and thank the families of the five Sikh schoolboys and the 6,000 strong Belgian Sikh community for standing resolutely against the ban," she added.
Pawandeep Singh, one of the students who had to leave the school because of the ban on the patka said, "I couldn't believe it when I was told just now that we have won the case. I am very happy for all Sikh boys who will now be able to wear a patka in all Belgian schools."
In 2005, United Sikhs took up the case in response to a global appeal for assistance from the secretary of the Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Belgium, Amarjit Kaur, who said that the ban at Domein Speelhof had forced the Sikh students to travel 100 miles everyday to attend another school or to attend school with a bare head.
"I am thankful to the Hasselt court for upholding the rights of children to practise their faith," said Amarjit Kaur.
The president of the Sikh Sangat Gurdwara in St. Truiden, Mohinder Singh, said, "We thank God for the outcome and are relieved that the court has seen it right to uphold our children's right to obtain a sound education whilst they practice their faith."
Parents of the affected students telephoned United Sikhs to convey their gratitude for the support they received. "We are very grateful to United Sikhs, the Guru Nanak Sikh Society and the global Sikh community for standing by us," said Karamjeet Singh, father of Harjeet Singh and Sukhdeep Singh, who will be returning to Domein Speelhof school wearing their patka, whilst the other three students will continue their education in the technical schools in which they are now enrolled.
(From the United Sikhs)
#3. CONNECTICUT: SIKH ARRESTED FOR CARRYING KIRPAN IN COURTHOUSE
STAMFORD, CT: 47-year-old truck driver Sachdev Singh entered the State of Connecticut Superior Court on June 18, seeking to contest a traffic violation when he was arrested for wearing a kirpan, a blade that is a Sikh article of faith, and his turban was forcibly removed from his head.
The incident occurred soon after Sachdev Singh entered the courthouse as he was passing through security, handled by the Connecticut Judicial State Marshals. Sachdev Singh wore his approximately five-inch-long kirpan under his clothing, as many Sikhs do, and stated to security officers on three different occasions before entering the metal detector that he had “a religious symbol under my clothes.”
The marshals did not inquire as to the religious symbol, expressed that it was fine to enter, only informing him that he had to deposit his cellphone and camera with one of the marshals. When Sachdev Singh passed under the metal detectors, he was promptly arrested and both his kirpan and his turban were stripped away from him forcibly.
The event in question occurred when Sachdev Singh notified a marshal prior to entering the metal detector at the courthouse of the presence of “a religious symbol” under his clothing. Assured that all would be well and that he should turn his camera and cell phone, which are not allowed, over to another marshal before going through the metal detector, he did just that, giving the cell phone and camera to one marshal and stating again that he carried a “religious symbol” under his clothes, who made no objection or inquiry.
Approaching the metal detectors once more, Sachdev Singh again declared that he carried a “religious symbol” under his clothing. The marshals, at this juncture, waved Sachdev Singh through the detectors, and as he passed, the detectors beeped. Sachdev Singh, following directions, did as the marshals asked and displayed his kirpan, resulting in an marshal holding his arm immediately.
Sachdev Singh politely requested that the marshal let go of his arm and stated to the marshals that he had declared the presence of “a religious symbol under my clothes” several times to three different state marshals and was assured that he only was required to leave his cellphone and camera behind. At no point did any official question what the article of faith was or ask him to display it. State marshals then handcuffed Sachdev Singh as they asked him whether he had anything in his turban, to which he responded that he did not.
Despite Sachdev Singh’s statement, a few minutes later after being escorted to a table where all his possessions had been placed, a marshal came up behind Sachdev Singh and tore off his turban without asking his permission to remove it, and placed it on the table.
After approximately an hour of questioning, Sachdev Singh's handcuffs were removed, he was allowed to retie his turban, and then was placed under arrest for “carrying a dangerous weapon.”
Sachdev Singh was taken to jail where he was fingerprinted and his turban was once again forcibly removed. Currently, Sachdev Singh is being charged with a possession of a dangerous weapon, which is punishable by up to $500 in fines, up to three years in prison, or both. Under this charge, if the edge portion of the blade exceeds four inches in length, it is considered “a dangerous weapon.” However, it is to be noted that the five-inch kirpan he was carrying at the time was so dull that the “edge” could be rubbed along one’s hand without causing any harm. He was released from jail once he posted bail.
“It was a great shock that state marshals handling security of a court of law would treat me in this manner,” said Sachdev Singh. “I am concerned this incident will adversely affect my citizenship status, as I am applying for naturalization, and I am upset that my rights were so unlawfully cast aside in a courthouse, of all places.”
When United Sikhs was called by the victim, they immediately attempted to contact Judicial Marshal’s Chief Victor Corley who handles security at the courthouse where the incident occurred, and also called State Attorney David Cohen of the Prosecutor’s Office, both of whom were unavailable.
“According to Connecticut State statute Sec. 53-206, which Sachdev Singh is charged with violating, one cannot carry ‘any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or over in length,’” said Jaspreet Singh, Staff Attorney for United Sikhs. “In this case, seeing as the blade was completely dull to the point of being able to rub one’s hand over it without injury, it should not be considered a ‘dangerous weapon’. Furthermore, prior case precedent in multiple states show that the kirpan to be treated only as an article of faith.”
(From the United Sikhs)
#4. TORONTO: DEVELOPING CONSENSUS AMONG SIKHS
Haloona Project Coordination Team hosted a “Community Revival: Rekindling Sikh Spirit” program at Sikh Spiritual Center, Rexdale on June 28. The Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI), a texas-based community development organization, was invited to facilitate two educational sessions held in this workshop organized for the Greater Toronto Area Sikh organizations.
According to Bhai Harjinder Singh, Haloona’s coordinator, “the purpose was to present the information that positively affects the Sikh community by creating awareness about the issues facing the Panth.”
In this particular workshop dedicated to the thought of unification of Panth, 85 participants were engaged in discussing practical and realistic solutions to prevailing problems within the Sikh Nation. Because of their abilities to prioritize and actively improve the Sikh nation, Community Revival sought to draw together a variety of engaged community leaders, activists, professionals, and youth. Bhai Inderpreet Singh, a workshop facilitator and a member of the SikhRI’s Board of Advisors, explained that “Community Revival program exists to restore a deep sense of identity; the global Sikh community must keep alive the spirit of Sikh sovereignty and prosperity through an understanding and practice of the faith.”
Throughout the sessions, attendees learned how the Sikh Rahit Maryada came about, its need and relevance to guide and shape individual and panthic Sikh behavior, and application of its institutions such as Sarbat Khalsa and Gurmata in today’s context. Then, a model Sarbat Khalsa activity was conducted comprising of eight Jathas of varying ideologies within the Panth. The task was to identify the three highest priorities facing the Sikh Nation. After three iterations, they were identified: Unification, Education, and Sovereignty. At a personal response front, each participant developed a goal that will be implemented within next two months to champion a task within the three aforesaid areas.
Gurdev Singh, a participant from Brampton, remarked: “It is a good program you introduced for the community: How to understand other factions who are also Sikh, but differ due to some of their own thinking. So, it is a good example of ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ ideology, which should be understood and implemented.”
Gurpreet Singh, a participant from Mississauga, got highly impressed and commented: “Indeed it was very informative and effective. It is rare that we see such clarity and transparency in vision, action plan and execution.”
Balwinder Singh, a Haloonaa team member, said that an important inspiration got from this event is, “Each Sikh should spend his time and money on common issues and positive efforts to strengthen the Panth.”
“Our aim is to learn and share the intricacies of the sovereign elements of the Sikh culture that unified us as a collective. For more than 200 years, the Sikhs have been using un-Sikh-like processes for their decision making. It is time to re-kindle our spirit, develop the Guru-initiated processes, and strengthen our institutions for collective good,” said Bhai Harinder Singh, SikhRI’s Executive Director and the chief workshop facilitator.
Haloonaa team has already announced the next series of workshops for the Sikh-Canadians to be conducted on August 9 and the theme of these events will be, “Sevadar: Becoming an Inspiring Activist.”
(Contributed)
#5. TEXAS: EEOC APPLAUDED FOR TAKING ACTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORPLACE
Texas: The United Sikhs organization applauds the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency whose mandate is to end discrimination in the workplace, for filing a suit against a Texas company that refused to hire a Sikh because of his appearance. The EEOC took up Sukhdev Singh Brar's case after United Sikhs referred it to them in December 2007, after all attempts to seek redress with the employer, Champion National Security in Richardson, Texas, failed.
Sukhdev Singh, a certified security officer with over six years work experience, applied for a job at the Champion National Security Firm in Richardson, Texas in October 2005. During his job interview, he was told that he was going to be hired, but that he would be required to shave his beard and remove his turban to fit a “quasi-military appearance.” Sukhdev Singh informed the interviewer that it was against his religion to cut his hair and that it was a religious requirement to wear the turban, to which the interviewer responded that it was company policy which could not be changed. With United Sikhs’ assistance, Sukhdev Singh initially filed complaints with both the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), at which time the EEOC initiated an investigation.
The EEOC is seeking compensatory and punitive damages against the security company after numerous consultations with United Sikhs to understand the importance of kesh (unshorn hair) covered by a dastaar (Sikh turban) as one of the five articles of faith Sikhs are required to wear, and the sensitivity of religious freedom and the articles of faith for the Sikh community. EEOC offices across the country have been receiving training from United Sikhs in regard to the Sikh religion and the importance of the kesh covered by a dastaar (turban), and the other four kakaars (articles of faith). Communications between the EEOC and the Sikh community have been vital in getting the EEOC to take this case to the level it has reached. Awareness events taking place in various gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) around the nation have been particularly successful because people have actually reported incidents during the events, and the national EEOC office has recognized that Sikhs are at a great risk of being discriminated against in the workplace. United Sikhs urges the Sikh community to continue to report incidents of discrimination of any kind, so that appropriate actions can be taken.
United Sikhs Director, Gurvinder Singh, who assisted Sukhdev Singh with the case from the initial filing until now stated, “I am privileged to be involved in such an important case that can hopefully set a strong precedent and will assist future generations to come.” Gurvinder held a training session for the staff of the Dallas District Office of the EEOC in April, where EEOC Dallas Director Michael Fetzer acknowledged that strong action should be taken in cases like Sukhdev Singh's.
Commenting recently on the severity of the discrimination faced by Sukhdev Singh, senior attorney Bill Backhaus of the EEOC stated that the company was “demanding someone give up their deeply held religious beliefs for a job. In that regard, I think it's very egregious.” Harpreet Singh, Legal Director of United Sikhs, stated “We are encouraged by the EEOC taking swift action in this case, and hope they will continue to take aggressive steps to cure this issue with the Sikh community. We want Sikhs to look at Sukhdev Singh as an example and come forward to report issues at their workplace. No American should have to sacrifice their religious beliefs or any freedom to earn a living.” United Sikhs is continuing to assist Sukhdev Singh with his case, and is collaborating with the EEOC to assist many others around the country to fight employment discrimination.
United Sikhs urges the Sikh community or any minority to continue to report incidents of discrimination of any kind, so that appropriate actions can be taken, by calling 1-888-243-1690 or emailing law@unitedsikhs.org.
(From the United Sikhs)
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