Advocacy Groups Urge California Governor and Attorney General to Support Sikh Civil Rights
Concerns to be raised at San Francisco Press Conference
Washington, DC - More than two years after Mr. Trilochan Singh Oberoi-a Sikh American job applicant-won a religious discrimination case against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), the state of California is opposing the civil and economic rights of California Sikh Americans to work as state corrections officers.
After a two-day trial in 2008, the California State Personnel Board's Appeal Division (SPB) determined that Oberoi, who keeps a religiously-mandated beard, suffered unlawful workplace discrimination at the CDCR. SPB determined that officials at CDCR failed to explore reasonable accommodations for Oberoi, as required by law, even though beard exemptions were allowed for individuals with medical needs, and despite the fact that Sikh Americans serve in the United States Army in compliance with safety requirements.
The offices of newly sworn-in California Governor Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris have backed CDCR, which has failed to comply with the SPB ruling. "We hope to draw Governor Brown and Attorney General Harris's attention to this important issue. The state's decision to not just tolerate but to support this violation of civil rights is troubling. If Sikh Americans can serve their country in the U.S. Army, then there is no reason that Mr. Oberoi's case places an undue burden on CDCR," said Veena Dubal, staff attorney at the Asian Law Caucus.
In response, civil rights groups, including the Sikh Coalition, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and the Asian Law Caucus, have scheduled a press conference for Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 10am at the San Francisco offices of the Asian Law Caucus to create awareness about Oberoi's case. More than a dozen state and national advocacy organizations have also signed letters of concern about the case to Brown and Harris.
"Governor Brown and Attorney General Harris should stand on the side of civil rights," said Rajdeep Singh, Director of Law and Policy at the Sikh Coalition. "When the California Governor and Attorney General support discrimination at a state agency, this empowers private employers to discriminate with impunity. We call upon Governor Brown and Attorney General Harris to restore the rights of Mr. Oberoi and open the doors of equal opportunity to all who wish to work as public servants in California, regardless of religion."
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About The Asian Law Caucus:
The Asian Law Caucus was founded in 1972 as the nation's first legal and civil rights Asian American organization. Recognizing that social, economic, political and racial inequalities continue to exist in the United States, ALC is committed to the pursuit of equality and justice for all sectors of our society, with a specific focus directed toward addressing the needs of low-income, immigrant and underserved Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Asian Law Caucus is a member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice. Visit: http://asianlawcaucus.org
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