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California law bars discrimination against
Sikhs, Muslims
Monday September 10, 2012 06:21:26 PM,
IANS
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Washington, Sep 10 (IANS) California
Governor Jerry Brown has signed two bills aimed at battling
workplace discrimination against Sikhs and Muslim by shunting
workers wearing turbans, beards and hijabs to backroom jobs out of
public view.
"This bill, AB 1964, makes it very clear that wearing any type of
religious clothing or hairstyle, particularly such as Sikhs do,
that that is protected by law and nobody can discriminate against
you because of that," Brown told an enthusiastic crowd of 500
Sikhs Saturday, the Sacramento Bee reported.
"Breaking down prejudice is something you've got to do every day,
and to help us do that, I'm going to sign a couple of bills," he
said at a rally of the North American Punjabi Association on the
steps of the Capitol in the state capital of Sacramento.
"Sikhs everywhere can see in California they are a powerful
presence," he was quoted as saying.
The Workplace Religious Freedom Act, Assembly Bill 1964 by
Democrat Mariko Yamada, ensures that employees receive equal
protection under law, protecting workers who wear turbans, hijabs
and yarmulkes. In California, employers faced over 500 cases of
religious discrimination in 2011.
Brown himself declined to wear a turban, saying, "I've worked hard
to get my head cleared," but honoured the thousands of Sikhs who
have given their lives in a long history of struggle for religious
freedom both in India and the United States, the Bee said.
Brown also signed Senate Bill 1540, sponsored by Democrat Loni
Hancock changing how history and social sciences are taught in
schools so that students learn about the history, tradition and
theology of California Sikhs.
Education can blunt hatred, prejudice and fatal misunderstandings,
such as the massacre of Sikhs outside a Wisconsin temple, Brown
said.
"Both bills represent landmark achievements that will increase
protections for all religious observers in the workplace and
expand awareness of the 100-year history of Sikhs in California,"
said Balbir Dhillon, president of the Sacramento Sikh Temple.
Calling it "a historic win for civil rights," Sikh Coalition said
"This achievement ranks among the most far-reaching victories in
the Sikh Coalition's history. It will protect the civil rights of
millions of Americans."
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