In the News…

October 18, 2006

FIVE INDO-AMERICANS ELECTED TO NY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

New York - Five Indo-Americans have been elected to the Queens Democratic County Committee - a first in New York history.

Harjinder Singh Duggal, Dhan Singh, Gurmej Singh, Mohinder Singh and Harpreet Singh Wahan - all from New York Sikh community - were elected to the committee during the primary election and will represent Flushing, Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park.

New York is home to approximately 200,000 Indo-Americans, of which 50,000 are Sikhs.

"These are the most humble positions an elected official could possibly have, but it's a start," the legal director of the Sikh Coalition, Amardeep Singh, said.

Prompted to run for office by a desire to combat the discrimination Sikhs have experienced since September 11, 2001, the election signals their acceptance in local politics and reflects their ambition for civic involvement. To date, few Sikhs had been elected to public office in any political race, and until now they had been interacting with government mostly from the outside. In New York City, political insiders said the Sikh community previously asserted itself by donating to campaigns of local lawmakers.

"Since 9/11, Sikhs have lived in constant fear of hate crimes and discrimination. Sikhs have been branded as terrorists because we wear turbans," Amardeep Singh said. "The election of five Sikhs in New York signals a new era where Sikhs can proactively raise awareness and fight prejudice with our political clout."

Wahan said that, seeing the under representation of Sikh Americans, he decided to run for the position, adding that he wants to work for all voters. Wahan and his fellow newly elected members went to their first committee meeting last week. He said that they received a warm welcome from elected officials.

Wahan also said that, among his top priorities, is educating people so that they will realize that wearing a turban does not mean that someone is a terrorist. He also said that his personal goal is to represent all voters.

"We have the fifth largest religion in the world and yet Sikhs remain misunderstood and are targets of discrimination because of the way we look and the clothes we wear," said Duggal.

There are other reasons Sikhs gravitate to local electoral politics. In New York, the Sikh temples, known as gurdwaras, are run by democratically elected committees whose members must campaign for their positions. As a result, said Jeff Merritt, president of the Grassroots Initiative, Sikhs understand the need to be loyal to constituents.

The Grassroots Initiative helps minority candidates enter the political process through party committees, a path to power that was used most effectively by the Christian conservatives in the 1980's and 90's.