A Crucial Stand Against Transnational Repression

In Sep 2023, revelations of the extra-judicial killing of a Canadian Sikh activist sent shockwaves across the world. The Governments of Canada and the US rushed to take steps to combat the increasing tide of transnational repression on their soils.

One such step was the California Assembly Bill 3027 (AB No. 3027) by Assembly member Dr. Jasmeet Bains, which received unanimous bipartisan support in the Assembly Public Safety Committee. The bill aims to make various legislative declarations regarding transnational repression and to require appropriate agencies to develop transnational recognition and response training. 

Sadly, AB 3027 faced significant political opposition even amidst several incidents of threat to the Sikh community being recorded since last year. Shockingly, one such target was Dr. Bains herself, the author of AB 3027 and the only Sikh state legislator of California. She was visited by four men in her office who appeared to be of Indian origin, warning that they would, “do whatever it takes to go after you.” 

This matter is also linked to the long lived reality of caste-based discrimination that promotes unequal access to life, livelihood, and the capacity for human flourishing. In  2020, a lawsuit filed against a software company alleged a failure to address discrimination by two supervisors against an employee from the Dalit caste.  A  complaint against a non-profit for a forced underpaid and exploitative construction work was likewise filed in 2021. These two lawsuits  exposed the pervasiveness of caste dynamics far beyond the borders of South Asia and underscores the need for adding caste to the existing set of protected categories under federal law. However, some wealthy and privileged interest groups who opposed the banning of caste-based discrimination are also opposing AB 3027 now.

We firmly believe that the Transnational Repression Bill is a crucial step towards safeguarding human rights and dignity as it seeks to protect individuals and organizations from foreign government intervention purporting to stifle dissent and control the diaspora communities. It ensures that local law enforcement is well-prepared to recognize and address these violations within our communities 

It saddens us that the intelligence community who believed in fair human rights made public early this year about Sikhs being targets of the Indian government, are suddenly silent on the issue.

Assembly Bill 3027 is a vital piece of legislation that upholds human rights, protects vulnerable communities, and strengthens our commitment to justice. Let us work together to create a safer and more just society.