Legal Project update

The Sikh Coalition is so appreciative of the sangat's support of the  Sikh Coalition’s “Legal  Work” project. The investment has been so important in pushing this work forward. We wanted to share some updates from the last few months:

Responding to Vandalism at Khalsa Gurmat Center
On September 17, 2021, Khalsa Gurmat Center--a Sikh house of worship, school, and community center located in Federal Way, Washington--was vandalized and burglarized.

The Center retained the Sikh Coalition to provide free legal assistance and liaise with relevant law enforcement agencies and elected officials as the investigation moves forward. At this time, law enforcement authorities are investigating all possible motives--including the possibility that bias could have been a factor. In addition, the Sikh Coalition has reached out to elected officials in Washington to ensure that they are aware of the investigation, and several media outlets, for the express purpose of helping law enforcement identify potential suspects. The Sikh Coalition will continue working directly with gurdwara leadership to prioritize safety and provide updates on the case as they become available.

Advocating for Better PPE for Sikhs
Last month, the Sikh Coalition submitted additional formal recommendations to revise federal masking policies, calling for the availability and legal enforcement of alternative kinds of personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn by Sikhs, religious minorities, and other individuals as necessary. Previously, in August, the Sikh Coalition provided policy recommendations to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in response to the federal government’s publication of the Emergency Temporary Standard to limit the spread of COVID-19 in healthcare settings. Additionally, we submitted recommendations to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to highlight the needs and challenges in PPE for the Sikh community.

100+ Legal Professionals Join Virtual CLE Conference
On September 24, 2021, more than 100 legal professionals and law students joined the conversation on the core civil rights issues facing Sikhs and other minority groups since 9/11 during the Sikh Coalition’s first-ever virtual legal conference--Realizing Justice For All--hosted in partnership with law firms Winston & Strawn LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. During the conference, we were also privileged to honor our 2021 Pro Bono Sevadar Co-Counsel of the Year, Winston & Strawn LLP Partner and Sikh Coalition Legal Advisory Committee member Amandeep S. Sidhu.

This is in addition to responding to 200+ legal intakes a year, filing joint amicus briefs, and our ongoing advocacy, education and community engagement work. As we continue to defend and safeguards religious freedom, we look forward to sharing more updates.