Guest Blog Post: RebLaw Panelist Rajdeep Singh Jolly
Below is a guest post by Rajdeep Singh Jolly, Legal Director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund and panelist on this year's RebLaw panel, "Evolving Understandings of Hate Crimes Against Asian and Middle Eastern Americans in Pre- and Post-9/11 America: Economic Motivations and the Myth of the 'Perpetual Foreigner.'"
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Post 9/11 Bias against Sikh Americans: A View from the Blogosphere
by Rajdeep Singh Jolly, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund
The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) was founded in 1996 as a counterpoint to distortions of the Sikh religion in the mainstream media and has since evolved into a full-fledged civil rights organization. Its mission is to protect and promote the civil rights and overall condition of Sikh Americans through advocacy and education. The Sikh religion was founded by Guru Nanak in South Asia over 500 years ago. Sikhs believe in one God and believe that all human beings are created equal, regardless of religion, race, or gender. There are approximately 25 million Sikhs throughout the world and more than 700,000 adherents in the United States. Observant Sikhs are distinguished by turbans, uncut hair, and other visible articles of faith and are regrettably subjected to hate crimes, school bullying, harassment, and discrimination because of their (actual or perceived) religion, ethnicity, and national origin. What follows is a cross-section of commentary about the work of SALDEF across the blogosphere:
Illustrative responses to SALDEF’s announcement of the filing of a religious discrimination lawsuit by a Sikh American musician against Walt Disney Entertainment, Inc.
“that rag-head needs to understand that is disney, the happiest place on earth. [T]he terrorist-look is not the disney look[.]” – Posted by: bmwmission 6/17/2008 11:34am at The Miami Herald
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“Now this man wants to sue Disney because he refuses to take the towel off of his head. Maybe he should take that towel & hang himself with it. Then Disney can buy the movie rights and release a cartoon movie based on his life. I bet they’ll get back their attorneys fees plus more.” – Posted by: TOMBRADY 6/17/2008 1:53pm at The Miami Herald
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“He probably wanted a job there so he could figure out how to kill the maximum amount of little kids when he sets of his bombs.” – Posted by: fishfeedfive 6/16/2008 4:45pm at TMZ
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“I wonder what religion this fool belongs to. The first one that is thought of is Muslum (sic) but they don’t require ‘big bushy beards.’ Since he has the ‘big bushy beard’ perhaps he could work in the monkey cages cleaning out the crap. I am sure we don’t want to see him or his diaper and fan belt walking around Disney which has always had a policy of it’s (sic) employees being cleancut.” – Posted by DennyPCrane 6/17/2008 9:07am at The Tampa Tribune
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“Take a GOOD [look] around you… You are in the United States… NOT INDIA or PAKISTAN, or whatever country you’re from!! Drop the turban and knotty twisted face hair. If I was an employer and had dress code, rules and regulations, I would not hire you either. If I got to India, or Pakistan, or wherever you come from, I would be expected to honor the customs of your country. You should be expected to do the same here.” – Posted by (sportsfan34205) 6/17/2008 10:22pm at The Tampa Tribune
Illustrative responses to SALDEF’s announcement of a possible hate crime against a 67-year-old Sikh American and news reports that a 10-year-old Sikh American boy had his religiously-preserved hair forcibly cut by an attacker in Carteret, New Jersey
“i would like to shake the hand of the person who did this.” – Posted by: chopper75 10/31/2008 3:24pm at Home News Tribune
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“I know you will all attack me after my comment, but I am looking at the big picture. First of all I am in no way supporting the actions of these individual(s). When we are being attacked and killed 3000 at a time it is called a Holy War and they are doing it for Allah. As soon as somebody from here hurts one little "Hair" on somebody's head it is called a bias crime. I do agree an assault took place, but we are always expected to live up to so much higher standards. Just thought I would throw that out there. I know people who were murdered on 9/11, I can only wish that they only got a haircut instead!!” – Posted by: supremeruler 10/30/08 3:26pm Home News Tribune
Illustrative responses to news of SALDEF’s Sikh cultural awareness training program for Transportation Security Administration officials in New England, conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice
“Last time I checked the 9/11 terrorists all fit a certain type of description. Yes, I have a problem with pulling little old ladies out of a security line for additional security and allowing young muslim men through because we do not want to offend. Sorry, but when are we, as a country, going to learn that terrorists will use this type of Politically Correctness against us.” – Posted by: Reality Check, Hartford, CT 1/22/09 # 6 at The Hartford Courant
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“Maybe they should have a class to teach all these people that we don't want to see anything bad happen and to listen to security and to take off your turbans when asked. These muslims should know and understand our culture as well......like respecting us for wanting a safe place to live.” – Posted by: nbdirtyscrap, Meriden, CT 1/22/09 # 53 at The Hartford Courant
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“When are we going to stop [pussyfooting] around with terrorist and execute those even closely resembling a ‘terrorist.’ If one looks like a terrorist, acts like a terrorist execute on the spot.” – Posted by: GrayPlayer, Granby, CT 2/9/09 # 29 at The Hartford Courant
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For additional information about the work of SALDEF, please visit http://www.saldef.org.
Read more after the jump
