FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | PDF                                                Contact: Manar Waheed
March 7, 2013                                                                                 301-270-1855
                                                                                                         manar@saalt.org

South Asian organizations welcome the signing of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) into law today.  Representatives of organizations around the country, including South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), Raksha, and Sakhi for South Asian Women, attended the event today where President Barack Obama signed the bill into law.

Gender-based violence crosses boundaries of ethnicity and race, religion, socio-economic status, and sexual orientation to name a few. In the South Asian community, experiences of domestic violence are often exacerbated by cultural and linguistic barriers and immigration status.  For over two decades, VAWA has helped to protect survivors of domestic violence by providing them with meaningful choices, resources, and services.  In particular, VAWA greatly benefits immigrant survivors of domestic violence, including South Asians, by providing options towards securing immigration status without having to rely on their abusers.  Additionally, VAWA now provides expanded protections for numerous communities, including Native Americans, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered individuals, and students at colleges and university campuses around the country.

As President Obama said at the signing today, “…[O]ne of the great legacies of this law is that it didn’t just change the rules; it changed our culture.  It empowered people to start speaking out.  It made it okay for us, as a society, to talk about domestic abuse.  It made it possible for us, as a country, to address the problem in a real and meaningful way.  And it made clear to victims that they were not alone — that they always had a place to go and they always had people on their side.”

We also recognize the tremendous efforts of South Asian women’s organizations (SAWOs), who provide vital services day in and out for women in our community who are in need of support.  Below are comments from South Asian organizations around the country, applauding the passage of VAWA and recounting their work on issues related to domestic violence.

“The reauthorization of VAWA offers new lifelines that will dramatically change the future of many South Asian survivors of domestic violence. We are deeply appreciative of the sensitivity shown in the Act to empower and uplift immigrant women and children. Last year, we were successful in bringing 415 women and children out of the shadows of fear. This year we are certain the graph will rise. Thank you for this enactment as it will continue to strengthen the help we provide to those struggling with domestic violence.”

Lakshmi Aiyappa, Executive Director
ASHA for Women

 “Chhaya celebrates the passing of the VAWA bill and is pleased that the law provides meaningful support to the women we serve, their families and our communities.  Every year Chhaya reaches thousands of individuals and families through community presentations and outreach.  Last year, over 2500 people accessed our culturally competent housing assistance, financial empowerment and workforce preparedness services; 56 percent of them were women. We’ve also formed a strong crisis intervention referral process for survivors of domestic violence with our partners and allies and hope to continue with our work to create safer and stable communities with the reauthorization of VAWA.”

Seema Agnani, Executive Director
Chhaya CDC

“We are delighted that VAWA has been reauthorized.  We thank Congress for putting the needs of women and children before politics.  VAWA is lifeline for many of our clients, who would otherwise be separated from their children.  We are also excited to see a new provision that would allow victims of foreign labor contracts’ fraud to be eligible for U visas as we serve many temporary workers in the San Francisco Bay Area who seek this much needed help.”

Sarah Khan, Executive Director
MAITRI

 “The reauthorization of the VAWA is a triumph for organizations that focus on ending violence against women such as Manavi.  VAWA makes it possible for community-based organizations to receive government funding to provide critical and life-saving services to women affected by various forms of cruelty, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, stalking.  For nearly 29 years now, Manavi has been working to end all forms of violence against South Asian women.  VAWA has recognized these efforts and dedication by financially supporting our endeavors.  Under the immigration relief provided by VAWA, Manavi has been able to assist South Asian battered women secure a path to residency through self-petition and U-visa. VAWA affirms the right of all women to live free from violence and inspires us to build just and equitable communities.”

Board of Directors
Manavi

“The passage of VAWA is a wonderful victory for social justice movements across the board because violence against women impacts everyone directly or indirectly. The new provisions in this iteration will additionally reach out to many marginalized survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and other forms of violence.  That immigrant women, LGBT, and indigenous communities will now be able to access resources that can address violence in their communities is critical and remarkable. We at Narika would like to thank all the members of Congress who stood by this bill and ensured it passed. We continue to live in a world where violence against women is a systemic and alarmingly endemic reality and we need systemic measures and resources to end this violence.”

Preeti Shekar, Executive Director
Narika

“Raksha is relieved at the reauthorization of the VAWA.  It is because of VAWA that Raksha can continue to serve the needs of South Asian survivors in Georgia.  The immigrant provisions have been critical in ensuring safety and justice for so many of our clients. Without VAWA and its new provisions for immigrants, many of our clients would have had no options and nowhere to turn. We are so grateful that the re authorization included fixes for all survivors.”

Aparna Bhattacharya, Executive Director
Raksha

“For almost 25 years, Sakhi for South Asian Women has worked to unite survivors, communities, and institutions to eradicate domestic violence.  We were so honored to be present for the President’s signing of the VAWA reauthorization.  This legislation expands access to services and options for domestic violence survivors and uniquely impacts immigrants, including South Asians.  We hope that these changes will help us move forward in our movement to create strong and healthy communities for the betterment of our society as a whole.”

Tiloma Jayasinghe, Executive Director
Sakhi for South Asian Women

“We are both inspired and relieved that this issue has finally been prioritized in the 113^th Congress and was signed into law by the President today.  We hope that the expansions will better protect those who have previously been excluded and look forward to comprehensive immigration reform filling in the gaps that this legislation could not by increasing U-Visas for immigrant survivors.  The struggle to pass VAWA was much longer than necessary and we are so pleased that Congress finally came together to provide survivors of abuse with the protections they so rightly deserve.  We all deserve to be safe, to live without fear of abuse or harm.  Today, we are one step closer to that reality.”

Deepa Iyer, Executive Director
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)

 “The South Asian Network (SAN) is pleased that after many months, Congress passed a more inclusive version of VAWA.  In seeking to provide assistance to domestic violence survivors and prevent future acts of violence against women in the United States, we must better understand and be able to address their specific circumstances.  Enactment of this new version of the law will help SAN and other South Asian women’s organizations to do exactly that.”

Manjusha P. Kulkarni, Executive Director
South Asian Network (SAN)

South Asian Organizations Welcome Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) ReauthorizationSouth Asian Organizations Welcome Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) ReauthorizationWe look forward to continuing our work and advocacy on behalf of survivors of domestic violence in a manner that is inclusive and protects all individuals against violence.  The safety of every American is a basic right that should be protected each and every day.

Stand Together, Serve Together: Over 3,000 volunteers celebrate service and Gandhi’s challenge at Be The Change events nationwide | PDF

For immediate release:
October 6, 2012

Washington, DC – The spirit of volunteerism and community service should be taken beyond a single day of service – that was the message at the annual Be The Change national day of service hosted by the DC area-based non-profit organization, South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), on Saturday, October 6, 2012, in coordination with over 46 campus and city planning teams around the country.

Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s message, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” over 3,000 volunteers including students, professionals, and retirees contributed their time and energy to service activities around the country, including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, New Brunswick, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. In addition, college campuses from Hawaii to Oklahoma to New York coordinated Be The Change activities.

“For the past 11 years, Be the Change has encouraged community members, young professionals and students to take an active role to build community through service. With each year, we are increasingly inspired by the growth in numbers and initiative taken by individuals around the country to live the words of Gandhi as they get involved on this day and truly be the change,” said Deepa Iyer, Executive Director of SAALT.

“This was Austin’s third year participating in Be the Change as a core city. It was extremely exciting and gratifying for the Austin BTC coordinating team to watch the day unfold as volunteers from all walks of life stood together in service,” said Sonia Kotecha, the head of BTC Austin’s planning team. “To think that just a small group of us could inspire, motivate and mobilize an entire community to ‘be the change’ was humbling. It reminds me each year how ordinary people can do extraordinary things through serving each other.”

This year’s service activities focused on food and hunger, seniors, children and youth, civic engagement, and the environment. Partners and sponsors also affirmed the values of Be the Change. Partners ranged from South Asian sororities and fraternities to national Asian and Pacific Islander organizations and South Asian professional networks. Be the Change 2012 was supported by National Sponsors Sodexo, Development & Training Services, Inc., North American South Asian Bar Association, and Iota Nu Delta.

“Sodexo is once again thrilled to be a part of the nationwide Be The Change events which align with our corporate values and reflect our Business Resource Groups’ commitment to community engagement,” said Cassandra Chin Muh Loh, Sodexo Senior Training Manager and National Co-Chair of Community Engagement/Cultural Awareness of Sodexo’s Pan Asian Group.

This event was tweeted under #BTC2012. For more information and additional photographs, please contact info@saalt.org or 301-270-1855.

Diverse Organizations Hold Press Conference After Senate Hate Crimes Hearing | PDF

For Immediate Release:
September 19, 2012

Today, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, chaired by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), will hold a hearing on “Hate Crimes and The Threat Domestic Extremism” in the Hart Senate Office Building Room 216 at 2:30 p.m. Following the hearing today, representatives from civil rights and interfaith organizations will hold a brief press conference. Over 200 community members are expected to attend the hearing, which comes in the wake of the tragic, hate-motivated shootings at a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin that killed six people. Sadly, since September 11, 2001, South Asians, Arab Americans, Sikhs and Muslims have endured profiling, discrimination, and hate violence at unprecedented levels. “As history has proven, the highest levels of government can be very effective in setting a framework to prevent hate crimes and the threats posed by violent extremists,” says Deepa Iyer, Executive Director of South Asian Americans Leading Together. “The leadership of our government was crucial to counter the crisis that emerged during the attacks on African American churches in the 1990s. We are at a similar moment in history now and we, as a society, need the government to assist us in moving forward towards a safer America.” Read more about SAALT’s policy asks on our Statement for the Record, submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Please join us for this timely and important hearing, as well as the press conference that follows so that we can begin a dialogue on these issues.

For more information, please contact Nasreen Hosein at nasreen@saalt.org, (301) 270-1855, or Deepa Iyer at deepa@saalt.org, (301) 270-1855. This event will be tweeted from @SAALTweets using #antihate.

Diverse Community Organizations Applaud Senate Hearing on Hate Violence Next Week | PDF

For immediate release:
September 13, 2012

(New York, New York) September 12, 2012 – In the wake of the tragic, hate-motivated shootings in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, a United States Senate Subcommittee announced that it will hold a hearing on the threat posed by hate and extremist groups in the United States.

The hearing, entitled “Hate Crimes & the Threat of Domestic Extremism,” will be held before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, chaired by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 in Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226 starting at 2:30 p.m.  Following the briefing, leading civil rights and interfaith organizations that have spent the past decade working on community and policy challenges pertaining to hate crimes, will hold a brief press conference highlighting reactions to the hearing and outlining next steps.

On August 21, a diverse group of more than 150 organizations, led by the Sikh Coalition, requested a Senate hearing on hate crimes and domestic extremism. The immediate response by the Senate to this request indicates the severity of this problem and the importance of political leadership partnering with communities of all faiths and races to identify policy solutions that will make our country safer.

“We commend Senator Durbin’s leadership in calling for this unprecedented hearing,” said Amardeep Singh, Co-founder and Program Director for the Sikh Coalition, the nation’s largest Sikh civil rights organization. “As the tragedy in Oak Creek reminded us, the threat of domestic extremist hate violence is real, ever-present, and growing.  The topic of domestic extremist hate violence certainly needs a Senate platform. We expect that the hearing will bring this problem to light and explore the solutions needed to prevent another Oak Creek from happening.” Reach Mr. Singh at amar@sikhcoalition.org.

“SAALT welcomes next week’s hearing and commends Senator Durbin’s leadership in addressing hate violence and bias against all Americans.  We join our partner organizations in bringing light to the issue of hate violence which is on the rise, and in providing policy solutions that can make our country a safer place,” said Deepa Iyer, Executive Director of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT).  Reach Ms. Iyer at info@saalt.org.

“The Anti-Defamation League welcomes Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on response to hate crimes and the implementation of the Matthew Shepard James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA),” said Michael Lieberman, ADL Washington Counsel. The ADL was the leading organization that fought for passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.  “The horrible bias-motivated murders of Sikhs in their house of worship in Oak Creek, Wisconsin last month demonstrate, once again, the tragic impact of hate violence – and the critical importance of partnerships between government and community groups to prevent these crimes and respond effectively.” Reach Mr. Lieberman at MLieberman@adl.org.

“No one should live in fear of worshiping freely, expressing affection with one’s partner or spouse, or simply leading their day-to-day lives,” said Wade Henderson, President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the largest civil and human rights coalition in the United States. “Passing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was a historic step toward ending bias crimes, and this hearing marks an important opportunity to revisit the law’s impact on protecting diverse communities, ensure its full and effective enforcement, and refine our techniques for preventing these crimes from occurring in the first place.” Reach Mr. Henderson at Simpson@civilrights.org.

“The National Urban League commends Sen. Dick Durbin for holding hearings to shine a light on the threat of domestic extremism and hate crimes,” said Marc Morial, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Urban League.  “Radical, violent rhetoric and behavior in the pursuit of any ideology, political philosophy or social agenda cannot be tolerated in a free and civil society.    Indeed, a hate crime against even one citizen is a threat to all Americans, and we stand in solidarity with SAALT and the Oak Creek Community as they look for answers and a peaceful path forward.” Reach Mr. Morial at pruckersprings@nul.org.

“We join with people from all backgrounds who stand united against hate crimes and domestic extremism. No one should live in fear while going about their daily business, whether it be attending a worship service, holding the hand of the person they love, or simply being who they are. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, especially those of color, understand all too well what it’s like to be targeted for being who they are,” says Rea Carey, Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.  The Task Force has led national advocacy on gay civil rights issues. “The Senate is doing the right thing by shining a light on the continuing scourge of hate violence. One of America’s greatest assets is its rich diversity, and intimidation and violence against anyone should not be tolerated.” Reach Ms. Carey at rcarey@theTaskForce.org.

“We commend the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights & Human Rights for its timely hearing to examine hate crimes,” said Jose Perez, LatinoJustice Associate General Counsel and Legal Director.  LatinoJustice has led advocacy on behalf of Latino hate crime victims. “We join with our fellow civil rights colleagues and hope the hearing will identify the causes for such extremist behavior, and develop potential solutions to again make the U.S.A. the welcoming haven it has historically been for all immigrants.” Reach Mr. Perez at jperez@latinojustice.org.

“The attack on the Sikh temple in Wisconsin marked a deeply disturbing escalation of hate violence against Sikh, Muslim, South Asian and Arab Americans,” said Farhana Khera, Executive Director of Muslim Advocates, a leading Muslim civil rights organization.  “Hate violence has now reached a crisis point in our nation requiring the attention and leadership of the President and congressional leaders, and we commend Senator Durbin for holding a hearing that sheds light on the hate and discrimination that is fueling the violence against innocent Americans.”  Reach Ms. Khera at Fatima@muslimadvocates.org.

“The tragedy in Oak Creek calls upon us to have a national conversation about how to combat hate in America,” said Valarie Kaur, Director of Groundswell at Auburn Seminary. Ms. Kaur has spent considerable time with victims of the Oak Creek massacre. “As people from many faith traditions – Christian, Jew, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu and Humanist – we believe that an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us   We welcome this congressional hearing as an opportunity to catalyze introspection and action not only in our halls of power but also in our schools, workplaces, houses of worship, and communities. ” Reach Ms. Kaur at vkaur@auburnseminary.org.

“Since the events of 9/11 there has been a fixation on extremism and radicalization in the Muslim American community which has blinded us to real and imminent domestic threats of violence from other groups including white supremacists,” said Linda Sarsour, National Advocacy Director, National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC). “This hearing is an opportunity to look at hate crimes and extremism through a broader lens. We commend Senator Durbin on his leadership once again.” Ms. Sarsour has led the community response to spying by the New York City Police Department on Muslim communities in New York City.  Reach Ms. Sarsour at lsarsour@accesscommunity.org.

“The Japanese American Citizens League commends the Senate Judiciary Committee for holding this vital hearing on hate crimes and domestic extremism. Our organization has always stood steadfast against attacks and violence fueled by hatred and looks forward to the public discussion on strong measures that the government, community stakeholders, and the public can take to end bigotry in this country,” said Priscilla Ouchida, National Executive Director of the Japanese American Citizens League.

The Sikh Coalition has set up an RSVP link for people to indicate whether they can attend the hearing.

Sikh Coalition Contact:

Amardeep Singh, amar@sikhcoalition.org, 212-655-3095 x83
Rajdeep Singh, rajdeep@sikhcoaliton.org, (202) 747-4944
South Asian Americans Leading Together Contact:
Deepa Iyer, deepa@saalt.org, (301) 270-1855

Rights Groups Continue to Call for Dismantling of NSEERS and Criticize Department of Homeland Security’s Refusal to Repudiate This Discriminatory Program and Provide Relief to Those Unjustly Profiled | PDF

For immediate release:
May 7, 2012

Washington, D.C. – South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) joins the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC), Rights Working Group, and The Sikh Coalition in expressing serious disappointment regarding the Obama administration’s announcement last month that it will not fully terminate the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), which, in the aftermath of September 11th, required certain nonimmigrant men from predominantly Muslim nations to register with the federal government. In addition, the administration has indicated that it will not provide redress to all people impacted by the discriminatory program.

Last month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a memorandum about individuals impacted by the notorious NSEERS program. NSEERS was a counterproductive response to September 11th requiring certain non-immigrants to register at ports of entry and local immigration offices. Those required to register were from predominantly Arab, South Asian, or Muslim countries. The specifics of NSEERS revealed it to be a clear example of discriminatory and arbitrary profiling. The Obama administration has itself found that NSEERS “does not provide any increase in security.” DHS’ own Office of Inspector General has called for the full termination of NSEERS. In April 2011, DHS modified the program by “delisting” the countries whose nationals were subject to registration requirements, yet individuals still face harsh immigration consequences resulting from the program, including deportation and denial of immigration benefits for which they are otherwise eligible.

The administration’s most recent announcement on NSEERS did not fully terminate and dismantle the program. Instead, DHS offers limited relief to some individuals negatively impacted by this discriminatory program. Favorable consideration is limited to narrow circumstances, such as individuals who could not comply with the program because they received inaccurate information from the government or those who were hospitalized. The memorandum does not address relief for the many individuals who complied with the program but were found to lack immigration status nor those who were deported through secret proceedings that took place without due process of law.

“While the initial measures outlined in this policy could potentially benefit a subset of individuals affected by NSEERS, it does not go nearly far enough. Despite the advocacy community’s years of engagement with DHS on NSEERS, the new announcement reveals the administration’s failure to grasp the widespread fear this program caused in South Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern and Muslim communities in America and how NSEERS has torn families apart,” stated Deepa Iyer, Executive Director of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT).

“The recent issuance of the NSEERS memo by DHS misses the mark and fails to provide redress to all individuals who have been harmed by NSEERS,” stated Margaret Huang, Executive Director of Rights Working Group. “Further, the announcement leaves the program intact and states that information obtained through the discriminatory NSEERS program can continue to be used against individuals. The administration, yet again, has failed to address unconstitutional profiling based on race, religion, ethnicity and national origin,” continued Huang.

The memorandum does not directly grant relief or benefits to individuals impacted by NSEERS but rather asks DHS agencies to develop guidance to implement the memorandum. The groups call on DHS to engage with advocacy organizations in developing this guidance to ensure that it grants meaningful relief. The groups also urge DHS to dismantle NSEERS completely and discontinue using information obtained through the program.

Statement about Oak Creek tragedy from South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) | PDF

For immediate release:
August 5, 2012

South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) is deeply saddened by the tragedy that occurred today at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. SAALT condemns the shooting that occurred Sunday morning that has left, according to news reports, 6 people and the gunman dead, at least 3 others in critical condition, and many others injured. We extend our deepest sympathy to the victims, who included priests, congregants, and law enforcement personnel, and their loved ones.

Details regarding the motivation of the perpetrator are currently unknown. Law enforcement, including local police and the FBI, is investigating the incident as an act of domestic terrorism.

While the facts are still emerging, this event serves as a tragic reminder of violence in the form of hate crimes that Sikhs and many members of the South Asian community have frequently endured since September 11th, 2001.

SAALT is in touch with the White House and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as with Sikh organizations and community groups within and outside the South Asian community. We will continue to monitor this situation and send out alerts. Please contact us at info@saalt.org to provide or obtain information.

Resources and Information

• For a list of media spokespersons, please contact SAALT at info@saalt.org, or (301) 270-1855.
• See: Statement by the President on the Shooting in Wisconsin
• See: Statements from Sikh American organizations that are part of the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations

Sikh Coalition          
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund 
UNITED SIKHS 

• Resources on community safety at places of worship:

Community safety resources from the Anti-Defamation League
Muslim Community Safety Kit from Council on American-Islamic Relations