USA: Have You Signed the Petition to Protect Sikh Drivers’ Civil Rights?
UNITED SIKHS helped the sangat of Gurdwaras in California and New York sign the UNITED SIKHS hair sampling petition to ensure the protection of commercial drivers of the Sikh faith. Similar events were hosted at Gurudwaras in Virginia, in the Washington, D.C. area, and across the United States.
Washington, DC – On September 28, you signed the petition to write to your Senators about the detrimental effects bill S.806: Drug Free Commercial Driver Act will have on the Sikh community if passed without a religious accommodation amendment. In the past four weeks, we have received 1,200 signatures, but our work is far from over. The bill is still in the Senate and continues to pose a threat to Sikh commercial drivers across the country. If you haven’t done so already, we ask you to sign the petition to your Senators asking them support the civil rights of the Sikh community, and share it with your friends and family.
| Civil Rights Violation |
| Bill S.806 has the potential to violate the civil rights – the rights of citizens to equality and freedom – of Sikh commercial drivers. It fails to implement the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of the right of every citizen to practice his or her faith without fear of persecution or discrimination. |
| If this bill is enacted, employers will be able to force a Sikh operator to provide a hair sample without offering an alternate form of testing such as urinalysis, thereby preventing Sikhs from seeking employment as operators due to their inability to cut their hair for any purpose. |
| Once again, Sikhs would have to choose between employment, and their faith. |
| The bill will affect operators of all commercial vehicles. By signing the petition, you are contacting your Senators directly, and making your voice heard. Only one Senator must object to the bill and propose the amendment on the Senate floor. We are ensuring Senators across the country are aware of the concerns of the Sikh community. |
| As a civil rights organization, UNITED SIKHS is dedicated to ensuring the rights of all citizens, regardless of race, religion, or gender. |
| It is vital that we as a community rally around our senators – these officials should be informed of the detrimental effect of this bill on the Sikh community, and that overall, it stands in stark contrast to the free exercise clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. We thank all of our supporters who have already signed the petition, taking a stand for religious freedom in the United States. Please continue to share it with your friends and family, and encourage others to help us make a positive change. |
