Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund

09/09/2021

🇺🇸 The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) invites you to join us for our Virtual Symposium "20 Years Post 9/11: Reflect, Relive, React" on Monday, September 20 at 8:30 pm ET. 
 
🤔 This three-part free virtual symposium will begin with a REFLECTion from #AANHPI and MASA organization leaders to explore how the tragedy altered what activism looks like. 
 
👳‍♂️ Then, we RELIVE the experiences of Sikh community activists. Explore the range of discrimination they experienced and see how they re-framed tragedy through chardi-kala (high spirits) despite the obstacles of being othered. Hear how these experiences inspired activism. 
 
🗽Finally, we REACT #20yearssince the tragedy to discuss lessons learned over the last two decades and how to apply them to the current day challenges facing the AANHPI and MASA communities. Join us as we answer the question “where do we go from here”?

REGISTER NOW FOR FREE USING THE LINK IN OUR BIO!

09/08/2021

Young Sikhs still struggle with post-Sept. 11 discrimination

“Young Sikh Americans still struggle with discrimination a generation after Sept. 11 unleashed bias against them and their older relatives, ranging from school bullying to racial profiling to hate crimes.”

#SikhAmericans #SikhMedia ABC News

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/young-sikhs-struggle-post-sept-11-discrimination-79872152

Young Sikh Americans still struggle with discrimination a generation after Sept. 11 unleashed bias against them and their older relatives, ranging from school bullying to racial profiling to hate crimes

09/08/2021

#tuesdaythoughts

ਵਿਚਿ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਸੇਵ ਕਮਾਈਐ ॥ ਤਾ ਦਰਗਹ ਬੈਸਣੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥

In the midst of this world, do seva, and you shall be given a place of honor in the Court of the Lord.”

Seva is a key tenent of Sikhism and refers to “selfless service”, work or service performed without any thought of reward or personal benefit. Thank you to @govmurphy for visiting Sikh Sabha of New Jersey Gurdwara in Lawrenceville, NJ.

We were honored to share the seva (community service) the Sikh community has been doing to support those in need during the pandemic as well as after the recent storms that affected the east coast.

09/02/2021

Yesterday, the FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation released its 2020 annual report on hate crimes: https://bit.ly/3jxGVVT

Anti-Sikh hate crimes hit a record high of 67 documented incidents, reflecting a 37% increase over 2019, despite an overall decrease in the number of anti-religious hate crimes.

“The record number of anti-Sikh hate crimes underscores the concerns of the Sikh American community and need for investment in our community. Twenty years after the backlash inspired by the attacks of September 11th, it is saddening to see communities continue to be targeted because of their faith and background,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF).

SALDEF continues to urge the Sikh American community to remain in the spirit of chardi kala and will continue to work to prevent and support victims of hate and bias. If you would like to request a hate-crimes training for your #gurdwara, local law enforcement, school district, or other institution or to report an incident of hate or bias, please contact us: saldef.org/contact

Read the full statement here: https://saldef.org/fbi-reports-hate-crimes-against-sikhs/

Yesterday, the FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation released its 2020 annual report on hate crimes: https://bit.ly/3jxGVVT

Anti-Sikh hate crimes hit a record high of 67 documented incidents, reflecting a 37% increase over 2019, despite an overall decrease in the number of anti-religious hate crimes.

“The record number of anti-Sikh hate crimes underscores the concerns of the Sikh American community and need for investment in our community. Twenty years after the backlash inspired by the attacks of September 11th, it is saddening to see communities continue to be targeted because of their faith and background,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF).

SALDEF continues to urge the Sikh American community to remain in the spirit of chardi kala and will continue to work to prevent and support victims of hate and bias. If you would like to request a hate-crimes training for your #gurdwara, local law enforcement, school district, or other institution or to report an incident of hate or bias, please contact us: saldef.org/contact

Read the full statement here: https://saldef.org/fbi-reports-hate-crimes-against-sikhs/

09/01/2021

The attacks of September 11, 2001, changed lives around the world. We all felt the impact of the attacks on that morning and in the days, months, and years after. We saw acts of hate and acts of seva. We saw the Sikh American community come together in defense of other communities and policies that discriminated against us.

Since Sep­tem­ber 11th, South Asian, Sikh, Mus­lim, and Arab Amer­i­cans have been the tar­gets of numer­ous hate crimes and incidents, as well as employ­ment dis­crim­i­na­tion, bul­ly­ing, harass­ment, and pro­fil­ing. This year, leading up to the 20th anniversary of 9/11, SALDEF will be showcasing 9 lives affected by 9/11 featuring the stories of our community.

From journalists to activists, we hope to highlight through this campaign the often forgotten and marginalized stories of our community to showcase inspiring individuals who have displayed the Sikh values of resilience and chardi-kala in overcoming the aftermath of this tragedy.

Stay tuned in the coming days, as we explore 9 lives affected by 9/11.

The attacks of September 11, 2001, changed lives around the world. We all felt the impact of the attacks on that morning and in the days, months, and years after. We saw acts of hate and acts of seva. We saw the Sikh American community come together in defense of other communities and policies that discriminated against us.

Since Sep­tem­ber 11th, South Asian, Sikh, Mus­lim, and Arab Amer­i­cans have been the tar­gets of numer­ous hate crimes and incidents, as well as employ­ment dis­crim­i­na­tion, bul­ly­ing, harass­ment, and pro­fil­ing. This year, leading up to the 20th anniversary of 9/11, SALDEF will be showcasing 9 lives affected by 9/11 featuring the stories of our community.

From journalists to activists, we hope to highlight through this campaign the often forgotten and marginalized stories of our community to showcase inspiring individuals who have displayed the Sikh values of resilience and chardi-kala in overcoming the aftermath of this tragedy.

Stay tuned in the coming days, as we explore 9 lives affected by 9/11.

08/30/2021

Solidarity with Sikhs: De Blasio joins turban tying ceremony in Queens | amNewYork

Solidarity with Sikhs: De Blasio joins turban tying ceremony in Queens

“Several of my colleagues here today talked about the decision to bring members of the Sikh community into the NYPD and to allow them to recognize their traditions, their beliefs honorably.

I went to a graduation ceremony a few months ago for the NYPD...There was a young Sikh man with his turban and his shield and badge number on the turban.

And I looked at that and I thought to myself, how many good young men and women never had that opportunity before who could have done so much who could have protected this city and contributed and how wrong it was that they were excluded,” de Blasio said.

Read More: https://www.amny.com/news/solidarity-with-sikhs-de-blasio-joins-turban-tying-ceremony-in-queens/

Mayor Bill de Blasio had a turban tied for solidarity on Sunday.

08/25/2021

#SALDEFSpeaks on The College Admissions Process & Applying for Scholarships

#SALDEFSpeaks on The College Admissions Process & Applying for Scholarships

08/24/2021

Portrayal Of Turban Wearing Sikh Character In Arthur’s PBS Wins Everyone’s Heart

We are so excited about #Sikh representation in the upcoming movie, ‘Arthur’s First Day' set to premiere on PBS on September 6! 😍

Representation in the media means that America sees more to minorities than stereotypes. Furthermore, seeing someone who looks like you on screen can be especially powerful and inspiring especially for younger children.

We are proud of this important step towards inclusive representation in media 🙏

Learn more: https://kiddaan.com/portrayal-of-turban-wearing-sikh-character-in-arthurs-pbs-wins-everyones-heart/

#representationmatters #Sikhs #sikhism #media

Long running animated television series of children Arthur us back with a new season. Moreover, this time a Sikh Character is portrayed with Arthur and his friends. It will premiere on september 6. Watch the trailer inside.

08/20/2021

SALDEF Urges the Biden Administration to Protect Afghan Refugees - SALDEF

This past Sunday, the Taliban took control of Kabul after 20 years of U.S. military presence in Afghanistan.

We believe it is incumbent upon the United States to quickly expand opportunities for and to facilitate the ability of Afghans to seek refuge in the United States. As a country, the United States must stand up for human rights and protect #Sikhs, Hindus, and minorities from persecution.

Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) joins hundreds of other organizations and states across the United States urging the Biden Administration to support refugees seeking asylum, particular those who supported the United States and its allies, women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, and members of ethnic and religious minority groups.

In our ongoing discussions with the Biden Administration, we have highlighted the experiences of the Sikh and #Hindu populations remaining in Afghanistan and the challenges they face in seeking asylum at this time. We urge the Administration to facilitate and expedite their departure from Afghanistan, should individuals wish to seek refugee or asylum status in the United States.

Read the full statement here: https://saldef.org/saldef-urges-the-biden-administration-to-protect-afghan-refugees/

This past Sunday, the Taliban took control of Kabul after 20 years of U.S. military presence in Afghanistan. We believe it is incumbent upon the United States to quickly expand opportunities for and to facilitate the ability of Afghans to seek refuge in the United States. As a country, the United St...

08/17/2021

"This past month, SALDEF had the opportunity to train over 100 FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation, state and local law enforcement at the FBI Civil Rights Conference, Midwest Region in Louisville, KY. 10 Regional FBI Offices participated in the conference including Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Memphis, Springfield, and St. Louis.

For many of the attendees, this was their first introduction to #Sikhism and the Sikh American community. We received overwhelming positive feedback from the FBI about the training and a lot of interest from the 10 FBI field offices in attendance about connecting with the Sikh American community in their area.

It was an honor to train alongside Judy and Dennis Shepard who were instrumental in the passage of the nation’s first hate crime act, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr Hate Crimes Act of 2009. This Act granted more authority for Federal investigations into hate crimes and provided funding for state and local investigations into hate crimes.

I am grateful for the opportunity to share the experiences of the Sikh American community with the FBI and underscore to them why hate crime investigation, tracking and prevention is so important."

- Kiran Gill, SALDEF Executive Director

#hatecrime #lawenforcement #education

"This past month, SALDEF had the opportunity to train over 100 FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation, state and local law enforcement at the FBI Civil Rights Conference, Midwest Region in Louisville, KY. 10 Regional FBI Offices participated in the conference including Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Memphis, Springfield, and St. Louis.

For many of the attendees, this was their first introduction to #Sikhism and the Sikh American community. We received overwhelming positive feedback from the FBI about the training and a lot of interest from the 10 FBI field offices in attendance about connecting with the Sikh American community in their area.

It was an honor to train alongside Judy and Dennis Shepard who were instrumental in the passage of the nation’s first hate crime act, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr Hate Crimes Act of 2009. This Act granted more authority for Federal investigations into hate crimes and provided funding for state and local investigations into hate crimes.

I am grateful for the opportunity to share the experiences of the Sikh American community with the FBI and underscore to them why hate crime investigation, tracking and prevention is so important."

- Kiran Gill, SALDEF Executive Director

#hatecrime #lawenforcement #education

08/17/2021

Are you a high school student looking to navigate the college admissions process and learn how to apply to scholarships?

Join us in our upcoming webinar featuring Sikh Pre-College Network and APIA Scholars! Through this webinar, attendees will learn from experts on how to approach the college admissions process, and find scholarships tailored to our community.

Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions to current Sikh college students from Ivy League universities, community colleges, and state schools regarding their tips on college admissions and applying to scholarships.

You don't want to miss this free event!

REGISTER NOW, LINK IN BIO!

Are you a high school student looking to navigate the college admissions process and learn how to apply to scholarships?

Join us in our upcoming webinar featuring Sikh Pre-College Network and APIA Scholars! Through this webinar, attendees will learn from experts on how to approach the college admissions process, and find scholarships tailored to our community.

Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions to current Sikh college students from Ivy League universities, community colleges, and state schools regarding their tips on college admissions and applying to scholarships.

You don't want to miss this free event!

REGISTER NOW, LINK IN BIO!

08/16/2021

Passing the Mic: Sikh Society of West Michigan's Rishi Singh answers, "What does your faith do to address your members' suffering?" | The Rapidian

Rishi Singh is a #Sikh practitioner and interfaith outreach officer for the Sikh Society of West Michigan.

Passing the Mic: Sikh Society of West Michigan's Rishi Singh answers, "What does your faith do to address your members' suffering?" and poses his own question to other faith communities in the city, "What is the purpose of your life? How can you live a #spiritual life – how can you attain that which you’re sent here for?"

Listen to his response here: https://www.therapidian.org/passing-mic-sikh-society-west-michigan-rishi-singh

Rishi Singh, Sikh practitioner, responds to Yong Su Mark Hepper, Buddhist practitioner.

08/11/2021

Google Forms – create and analyse surveys, for free.

The attacks of September 11, 2001, changed lives around the world. We all felt the impact of the attacks on that morning and in the days, months, and years after. We saw acts of hate and acts of seva. We saw the Sikh American community come together in defense of other communities and policies that discriminated against us.

In effort to preserve the stories of the Sikh American community and record the impact and legacy of 9/11, SALDEF and the Sikh American History Project have joined together in a community collaborative project to collect and feature the stories of our community and create an archive for Sikh American researchers.

If interested, please submit your story here: https://forms.gle/c37j9m6Bxfe5XhY26

#September11 #SikhAmericans #oralhistory

Create a new survey on your own or with others at the same time. Choose from a variety of survey types and analyse results in Google Forms. Free from Google.

08/06/2021

Yesterday, SALDEF met with President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with a coalition of twelve other Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander civil rights leaders to discuss voting rights, anti-Asian hate, immigration, and economic opportunity.

At the meeting, we addressed the need for investments into the Sikh American community, including the need for increased outreach and support for our communities before and after acts of hate and discrimination, promoting the inclusion of Sikh Americans in public service, and the need for more government resources in Punjabi and other AANHPI languages.

Read our full statement, link in bio!