Sikhism

'This is an issue of equality': Maryland law to allow religious garments in college sports

July 20, 2022

Executive Director for the Aspen Institute's Religion & Society Program, who studies religion, racism and justice — recalls his own experience of fighting for inclusion as a turbaned Sikh athlete.

Growing up in Texas, he says he and his brothers were often denied the right to play school and college sports because of their turbans, a religious head covering worn by men of the Sikh religion.

His is one of the voices welcoming the US state of Maryland's Inclusive Athletic...

Read more about 'This is an issue of equality': Maryland law to allow religious garments in college sports

A saint-soldier defending Sikhs and reviving the American melting pot

July 15, 2022

The Sikh Coalition was born in the hours after 9/11, out of self-defense. In those raw days after the attacks, Balbir Singh Sodhi was shot outside the gas station his family ran in Mesa, Arizona. In the months following, American Sikhs were beaten and their temples, called gurdwaras, were set on fire. Less than a year after Singh Sodhi’s murder, his brother was shot while driving his cab near San Francisco.

In those early days, and as violence against Sikhs has continued — the latest wave of anti-Sikh harassment hit Queens, New York, earlier this year — coalition members were...

Read more about A saint-soldier defending Sikhs and reviving the American melting pot

'We gotta sleep with one eye open'| Family, Sikh community worried after several bullets fired into NW Harris Co. home

July 8, 2022

A family is physically okay but emotionally shaken up after someone fired several shots into their northwest Harris County home earlier this week.

It happened July 5 in the Heron Lakes Estates subdivision near Beltway 8 and Highway 249.

As Iqbal Singh’s parents and child slept in a bed just before 2 a.m. that Tuesday when he said they felt bullets whizzing inches over their heads and heard up to nine shots coming from the backyard, which were captured on surveillance cameras.

Source:...

Read more about 'We gotta sleep with one eye open'| Family, Sikh community worried after several bullets fired into NW Harris Co. home

Want to know about Sikhism? Head to new book collection in Oak Creek

May 23, 2022

Sikhism is the fifth largest world religion. There are more than 500,000 Sikhs in the United States. And in the greater Milwaukee area, there are two main places of worship.

But how much do local non-Sikhs know about it? Back in 2014, the National Sikh Campaign had a survey in which 60% of Americans said they know nothing at all about Sikhs.

A new collection of books about the religion and its culture is bridging communities and educating the public.

Source:...

Read more about Want to know about Sikhism? Head to new book collection in Oak Creek

Fourth Sikh man in Queens attacked in just weeks

May 15, 2022

Police in Queens are investigating the third attack on a Sikh man in just a matter of weeks.

The Indian Panorama reports someone attacked Kuldip Singh, 62, during his morning walk in Richmond Hills on Mother’s Day.

Singh is from Dasuya in Hoshiarpur. Authorities say a suspect rode up to Singh on a bicycle. He pulled out a pistol and demanded money. Singh grabbed the young man’s arm and the two began to wrestle....

Read more about Fourth Sikh man in Queens attacked in just weeks

California Sikh says cops delayed investigation into racist threats. Now he's suing.

May 12, 2022

A practicing Sikh man filed a federal lawsuit this week against Sutter County, alleging the Sheriff’s Office deprived him of his civil rights by failing to adequately investigate a pair of racist hate crimes he says he experienced last year.

The case centers on two incidents that Rouble Claire, the plaintiff, considers so brazen he can’t believe they happened.

They stemmed from a routine trip Claire took last May to South Butte Market, a short drive from his rural Northern California home.

Source:...

Read more about California Sikh says cops delayed investigation into racist threats. Now he's suing.

A year after FedEx shooting, Sikh Americans honor victims

April 15, 2022

A year after a mass shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis left eight employees dead — four of whom were Sikh — the Sikh American community says it is reflecting on the tragedy and continuing to heal. 

A number of national and local groups are honoring victims by holding tributes and prayer services, and by offering resources to the Indianapolis community. 

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI ruled that the April...

Read more about A year after FedEx shooting, Sikh Americans honor victims

Sikhs Sue Marine Corps Over Restrictions on Beards

April 11, 2022

A Marine artillery captain named Sukhbir Singh Toor has been on a mission over the past year to become the first Sikh in the United States Marine Corps allowed to openly practice his religion while in uniform.

During that time he has won a string of victories against the strict dress standards of the Marine Corps, and he can now wear the beard, long hair and turban required of a faithful Sikh while on duty. But recently, the Marine Corps dug in, refusing to allow him or any other Sikh to wear a beard on a combat deployment or during boot camp, saying that beards would hinder...

Read more about Sikhs Sue Marine Corps Over Restrictions on Beards

The Largest Sikh book collection in Wisconsin, and possibly the nation, now resides in Oak Creek

April 9, 2022

A collection of books about the Sikh faith and traditions is now available at the Oak Creek Public Library in a first-of-its-kind collection. 

About 120 books, movies and other items available for checkout are on display in Oak Creek, making the largest collection in the state, and possibly the country.

"We did some research and we couldn't find any other library that has aggregated items on display like this," said Jill Lininger, director...

Read more about The Largest Sikh book collection in Wisconsin, and possibly the nation, now resides in Oak Creek

Sikh man visiting NYC from India brutally attacked in possible hate crime, officials say

April 5, 2022

A 70-year-old Sikh man visiting from India was brutally attacked and left with a bloodied face and clothes in an incident being investigated as a possible hate crime, officials with the New York City Department and a Sikh-American advocacy group said.

The victim was identified as Nirmal Singh by the Sikh Coalition, a Sikh-American advocacy group providing Singh with free legal aid following the incident.

Singh was on a walk when he was suddenly punched in the face...

Read more about Sikh man visiting NYC from India brutally attacked in possible hate crime, officials say

Sikh Riders of America host charity ride to support Ukraine

April 3, 2022

A group of Sikh bikers came together in Seminole County Saturday for a charity ride to show support and raise money for the people of Ukraine.

Sikh Riders of America director Gurjit Sidhu said, "We just want to show our support for them. That we feel them."

The Sikh Riders of America was created years ago as a way to educate people about Sikhs and their religion at a time when many were the targets of hate crimes. Now the Sikh riders are using their platform to help Ukrainians who are currently under attack.

Source:...

Read more about Sikh Riders of America host charity ride to support Ukraine

Prayers for peace in Ukraine

March 14, 2022

A variety of religious traditions assembled Sunday evening to pray for one thing: peace in Ukraine.

The meeting at North Presbyterian Church was assembled by the Williamsville Interfaith Clergy Association and was led by two Ukrainian clerics, one Catholic and one Orthodox. Joining them were Presbyterians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Baha'i, Sikh and Unitarian Universalists.

North Presbyterian Pastor Bill Hennessy said the array of clergy was deliberate.

Source:...

Read more about Prayers for peace in Ukraine

Sikh group trains educators on bias-based bullying after altercation at Whiteland high school

March 14, 2022

A Sikh-American advocacy group on Monday held awareness training for more than 100 administrators and staff at Whiteland Community High School following a physical altercation involving students last month the group said was racially and religiously motivated.

The training happened exactly one week after a Sikh student returned to school after he and other students were suspended in connection with the Feb. 23 altercation, according to...

Read more about Sikh group trains educators on bias-based bullying after altercation at Whiteland high school

Sikh high school student suspended along with bullies who allegedly attacked him, knocked his turban off

March 3, 2022

A national Sikh Coalition is calling for an investigation after Sikh students at Whiteland Community High School in Indiana allegedly became the victims of “severe bias-motivated harassment and physical assault.”

The targeted students were in the school’s cafeteria when another group of students allegedly knocked a classmate’s turban from his head while filming. Another...

Read more about Sikh high school student suspended along with bullies who allegedly attacked him, knocked his turban off

US bishops back high school football coach in Supreme Court prayer case

March 3, 2022

The U.S. bishops’ conference had a friend-of-the-court brief filed on its behalf on March 2 in support of a former high school football coach who sued a school district after he lost his job in 2015 for refusing to stop kneeling and praying on the fifty-yard line after games.

Joseph Kennedy, the coach, eventually sued the Bremerton School District in Washington State in 2016 over its stance that he couldn’t continue his post-game ritual. The Supreme Court agreed to take up the case, Kennedy v. Bremerton School District on Jan. 14.

“The...

Read more about US bishops back high school football coach in Supreme Court prayer case

Pages