Mayor Bloomberg Declares Sikh Heritage Week in New York City

September 13, 2007

Author: Staff Writer

Source: SikhNet News Archive

http://www.sikhnet.com/sikhnet/news.nsf/NewsArchive/4AA3AE295757061387257355007FF482

In honor and support of the Spinning Wheel Festival which highlights Sikh history and culture, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has declared the week of Sept. 22nd – 28th Sikh Heritage Week in New York City.

The proclamation from the New York City Mayor’s office reads, in part,

“Now in its fourth year, the annual Spinning Wheel Festival showcases the rich diversity, history and culture of the Sikh people. In addition to documentary and feature films, the festival also offers interactive discussions with the films’ producers – helping to increase understanding of Sikh culture and strengthening the bonds of our city’s Sikh community, this week New Yorkers celebrate the talent, hard word, and dedication that Sikhs contribute to our city’s social fabric.”

This proclamation is especially timely in light of recent events with the US Transportation and Security Administration (TSA). Since August, the TSA has been conducting questionable searches of Sikh turbans as part of new policies for airport security. New York City’s declaration of Sikh Heritage Week will help create visibility for the United States’ estimated half a million Sikhs, who wear a turban as a sign of their faith and who practice equality, acceptance and fraternity as part of their religious tradition.