Sikhism

Groups Work to Alleviate Troubling Discrimination in Southern California's Housing

July 8, 2002

Source: Los Angeles Times

On July 8, 2002 the Los Angeles Times featured an article on discrimination faced by Muslim Americans and South Asian Americans when renting apartments in Southern California. "Anxiety... heightened in May when the FBI issued a memo saying terrorists might target apartment buildings with explosives... The Los Angeles Police Department followed that memo by releasing a list of guidelines that encouraged owners to be more vigilant about prospective tenants... Some housing advocates and civil rights attorneys worry that the...

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Richmond Hill Gurdwara Destroyed by Fire

July 7, 2002

Source: The New York Times

On July 7, 2002, The New York Times featured a story on the frustrations of the Sikh community in Queens, who lost their Richmond Hill Gurdwara to fire last March. The community has big plans for rebuilding their temple and community center, but work cannot begin until clearance is received. "Nothing has been cleared because officials of the Sikh Cultural Society of Richmond Hill, which owns the temple, and the insurance company, Great American Insurance, are still trying to work out a settlement." Despite tensions, community...

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Immigrants Become Citizens on July 4

July 5, 2002

Source: The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/77353_citizen05.shtml

On July 5, 2002 The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that this fourth of July in Seattle, "311 immigrants from 65 countries celebrated becoming American citizens at the Ethnic Heritage Council's 18th annual naturalization ceremony... The event drew hundreds more spectators and a long list of speakers,...

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Appeals Court Rules "Under God" in Pledge of Allegiance Unconstitutional

June 30, 2002

Source: Statesman Journal

http://news.statesmanjournal.com/article.cfm?i=44359.

On June 30, 2002, the Statesman Journal of Salem, Oregon featured an article on the recent Pledge of Allegiance ruling. "The decision created instant furor, in part because the pledge is an American icon. But it may have just as much to do with people’s relationship with God — or lack thereof... In America, God means different...

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Sikh Brothers Awarded $5 Million in Discrimination Suit

June 21, 2002

Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/75568_sikhs21.shtml

On June 21, 2002 Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that three Sikh brothers from Okanogana, Washington, who own a gas-station and a gasoline-hauling business called Flying B "were awarded $5 million in damages in a suit against Arco for discrimination after their contract to haul gasoline was abruptly canceled" when they complained of ethnic and religious harassment.

Update: Arson at Gobind Sadan

June 20, 2002

Source: Gobind Sadan USA

On June 20, 2002, Gobind Sadan USA issued a press release announcing that "representatives from the the Committee for the Reconstruction of Gobind Sadan Interfaith Center in Palermo [NY] will receive a $500 grant from the Boston Piano Religious Trust to help repair damage from what local police and fire officials have determined is an act of arson."

Sikh Man Fired: Turban Violates NYPD Uniform Policy

June 17, 2002

Source: Newsday

On June 17, 2002, Newsday featured the Editorial: "Police Department Should Rethink Policy on Turbans" which focused on the case of Amric Singh Rathour. "Rathour should not be forced to compromise the fundamental tenets of his religion unless officials show that his turban and beard put him or the public at risk when he writes tickets and directs traffic... Canada's Supreme Court ruled a decade ago that it was discriminatory to prohibit turban-wearing Sikhs from police work without safety reasons. Why shouldn't the same standard apply...

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California Sikhs Continue Tradition of Serving Drinks to All

June 16, 2002

Source: The Appeal-Democrat

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/061502/061502Carrying.shtml

On June 16, 2002 The Appeal-Democrat reported that "nine Sikh students brought a centuries old tradition to the Yuba City [California] community Friday, serving free cold drinks to passersby... and sharing a piece of history important to the Sikh culture... This weekend the martyrdom of 16th century Sikh Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Guru of Sikhism, is to be observed by all...

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NCCJ Denounces Racial and Ethnic Profiling at Annual Meeting

June 12, 2002

Source: The Buffalo News

On June 12, 2002 The Buffalo News reported that "as government officials urge Americans to help uncover would-be terrorists, a national anti-bigotry group says those efforts must not include racial and ethnic stereotyping... Brian Foss, executive vice president of the National Conference for Community and Justice... was the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the NCCJ's Western New York Regional Chapter at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo... Speaking before the event, Foss warned that racial and ethnic profiling are on the rise...

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Indian and Pakistani Immigrants Live Together Peacefully in America

June 8, 2002

Source: Star Tribune

On June 8, 2002, the Star Tribune reported that "at a time when India and Pakistan are again on the verge of war, immigrants from those countries have found in Minnesota a home where friendship can supplant hatred... Which isn't to say that issues of religion and nationalism don't sometimes intervene. But the unifying threads of language, food, music and culture often transcend those issues... Indians and Pakistanis began making the Twin Cities home after 1965, when immigration laws were relaxed... The most recent influx has...

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Kansas City Religious Communities Pray for Peace

June 6, 2002

Source: The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=4361405&BRD=1425&PAG=461&dept_id=154733&rfi=6

On June 6, 2002 The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle featured an article on an interfaith prayer gathering in Kansas City, Missouri, in remembrance of September 11. "The event will end with prayers for peace by selected individuals representing the Christian, Muslim,...

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Chicago Area Sikhs March in Parade, with Thoughts of Tensions in India

June 2, 2002

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-sikh02.html

On June 2, 2002 the Chicago Sun-Times reported on the Sikh-American Community of Chicago parade to mark the festival of Vaisakhi. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) was in attendance. The event "had special significance because of the rumbles of possible war between India and Pakistan. The Sikhs' home state in India, Punjab, is on the border."

Indian and Pakistani Immigrants Live Together Peacefully in America

June 1, 2002

Source: The New York Times

On June 1, 2002 The New York Times featured the article "The Distant Drums of War; In Queens, Indians and Pakistanis Live in Harmony" about the immigrant South Asian community in Queens, NY. "More than 200,000 Pakistani and Indian immigrants live in New York City, according to the latest census figures. And if the everyday rhythm of life on 74th Street, in the commercial center of the city's growing South Asian population, tells the tale of coexistence, theirs is a peaceful one... [But] there is worry, if not division, on 74th...

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Sikh Advocacy Group Settles with Fleet Bank

May 31, 2002

Source: Newsday

[newsday.com/business/ny-bzbank312726572may31.story?coll=ny-business-headlines]

On May 31, 2002 Newsday reported that "a Sikh businessman... has filed suit against Fleet National Bank, charging it denied him the opportunity to open a $250,000 certificate of deposit at a Fleet branch because of his appearance... 'My civil rights were violated,' said Inderjeet Singh Chowdhary, who wears a turban and facial hair in accordance with his faith. 'I have certain rights as a customer and in my opinion I had all the...

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