Sikhism

Sikh voice from Oak Creek Gurdwara urges Congress to protect minority institutions

February 18, 2022

Pardeep Singh Kaleka–the son of Satwant Singh Kaleka, who was one of 7 Sikh community members killed in the Aug. 5, 2012 attack on the Oak Creek gurdwara in Wisconsin, urge U.S. lawmakers to protect religious and other minority institutions.

On Feb. 17, 2022, Kaleka testified before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security in a hearing entitled The Rise in Violence Against Minority Institutions.(Click here to watch the hearing)...

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Christian nationalism has deep roots in America, faith leaders say

January 6, 2022

Shannon Rivers believes that Indigenous people are the moral compass of this country.

A member of the Native American Akimel O’otham, or River People, of the southwestern United States, Rivers points to historical accounts of the northeastern Wampanoag, who in the 1600s taught the Pilgrims how to grow crops and weather harsh winters.

“We were the ones who had that initial moral understanding of how you take care of one another, and we still maintain that today, despite every wrong...

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Norwalk OKs new Sikh religious center, but opposing neighbors say fight isn't over

January 11, 2022

After months of contentious debate and hours of public hearing and discussion, the Zoning Commission approved the application for a new Sikh religious center in West Norwalk. However, some neighbors have voiced efforts to continue fighting the project.

The building, to be built at 283 Richards Ave. was approved Thursday in a 5-1 vote, with commissioner Richard Roina as the sole dissenting vote.

The Sikh religious center — called a gurudwara — will be comprised of two main floors and a finished basement, totaling about 18,000 square feet, according to application...

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City's first Sikh temple welcomes everyone

January 10, 2022

Regardless of their religion and ethnicity, everyone is welcome at a new temple in downtown Timmins.

The former Gibby’s Tavern on Cedar Street is now home to Timmins Gurdwara, the city’s first Sikh temple. An unofficial opening was held on Dec. 31.

“It’s a beautiful building. They’ve done wonderful renovations,” said Cindy Campbell, executive director for Downtown BIA Timmins.

Source:...

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A decade after its own public tragedy, the suburban Milwaukee Sikh community gathers to support Waukesha parade victims

December 8, 2021

Nearly 10 years after a gunman killed six people at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, local Sikh community members have raised $14,000 for the victims and families of the Waukesha parade tragedy.

Nearly 40 members of the Sikh community gathered in Veteran's Park on Dec. 5 to pray for the parade victims and their families....

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Norwalk Sikh religious center proposal faces opposition

December 8, 2021

 A new Sikh religious center has been proposed for West Norwalk, and while many have expressed excitement over the thought of a proper place to worship, some residents are concerned the plan doesn’t fit in with the neighborhood.

The application for a 18,000-square-foot gurudwara, a Sikh place of worship, at 283 Richards Ave. was proposed by the Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Foundation in August. A review on the plans was presented to the commission in October. With nearly 100 letters and emails sent to the city regarding the proposal, the project was set for public hearing at...

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Dual devotion: A Sikh Marine can now wear his turban in uniform. But he wants more

November 18, 2021

In late September, 1st Lt. Sukhbir Toor, an ­officer with 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines, stationed in Twentynine Palms, California, donned a turban in his Marine Corps uniform for the first time.

But the limits placed on him by Manpower and ­Reserve Affairs have caused the Marine to ­appeal to the commandant and consider a lawsuit.

The young artillery officer cannot wear a ­turban while “assigned to lead an...

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Thousands gathered over the weekend for 42nd annual Sikh festival in Yuba City

November 8, 2021

One of the largest South Asian festivals outside of India wrapped up Sunday evening in Yuba City.

Tens of thousands of people from all over the world were on hand to celebrate the third and final day of the 42nd annual Nagar Kirtan Sikh Festival. 

The celebration culminated with a parade that made its way through the streets of Yuba City with floats and devotees honoring the holy scripture. 

Source:...

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Sikh Americans push for greater visibility, awareness against years of hate crimes, misunderstanding

October 11, 2021

After Sept. 11, Vishavjit Singh felt uneasy and unsafe in New York City. His turban and beard, articles of his Sikh faith, drew angry glares from his coworkers almost immediately after the attacks. With the understanding of his boss, he was able to leave Westchester county, where he worked as a software engineer at a telecommunications company, to go back home to Connecticut, where he would stay for a few weeks. In his mind, by then, things would have cooled down and he would no longer be at risk because of his appearance.

“When I went back to work, people in passing cars on...

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Sailors, Marines seek religious accommodation to wear beards

October 1, 2021

Shave or be Shaved. Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, sailor Edmund Di Liscia faced a stark choice. According to his lawyers, he was told to either shave his beard voluntarily or be held down by his bunk mate and forcibly shaved. For Di Liscia, a practicing Hasidic Jew who had not shaved for more than two years, it was a choice between his loyalty to the U.S. Navy and his religious faith.

Di Liscia is one of several sailors and marines who are seeking religious accommodation to wear beards while in uniform.  

Earlier this year, Di Liscia, along with three...

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Search for man caught on camera ransacking Sikh house of worship

September 18, 2021

The search is on for a man caught on camera ransacking a Sikh house of worship in Federal Way.

Surveillance video KIRO 7 received shows a man smashing through a glass door to gain entry into the Khalsa Gurmat Center on Friday.

According to a post from the worship center, the main hall and prayer area was vandalized, including windows and electronic control panels. Several computers and monitors were reportedly stolen too.

Source:...

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20 Years Ago: Remembering Sikh Temple Vandalism After 9/11

September 8, 2021

The impact of 9/11 was felt across every cross-section of America, including in the Muslim and Sikh communities, which faced backlash following the attacks.

Days before the Sikh Temple of Sacramento was attacked in 2001, West Sacramento police came to warn them of potential danger.

“Police informed us be fearful something might happen,” explained Balbir Singh Dhillon, President of the Sikh Temple of Sacramento. 

Source:...

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Young Sikhs still struggle with post-Sept.11 discrimination

September 7, 2021

Sikh entrepreneur Balbir Singh Sodhi was killed at his Arizona gas station four days after the Sept. 11 attacks by a man who declared he was “going to go out and shoot some towel-heads” and mistook him for an Arab Muslim.

Young Sikh Americans still struggle a generation later with the discrimination that 9/11 unleashed against their elders and them, ranging from school bullying to racial profiling to hate crimes — especially against males, who typically wear beards and turbans to demonstrate their faith.

As the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11 nears, those younger Sikhs...

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