March 2, 2020 (Olympia, WA) – On Friday, February 28th, the Washington State Senate honored Washington’s Sikh community with a resolution (read the entire text at bottom) sponsored by Senator Mona Das and co-sponsored by Senator Manka Dhingra. Joined by Governor Jay Inslee and Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib, more than 50 Sikh community members were present at the State Capitol for an official reading of the resolution and community reception.
“As Sikh Americans, it’s important for us to build relationships with our elected officials so that we can increase Sikh awareness and community power,” said Kent City Councilmember Satwinder Kaur. “To be formally recognized by our state’s legislature is meaningful to Sikhs who have made Washington our home.”
Efforts to build understanding about Sikhs and their history in Washington have increased in recent years, after violence targeting Sikhs have made local and national headlines. In 2017 in Kent, a gunman shot and injured a Sikh man in his own driveway while telling him, “go back to your own country.” Just last December, a Sikh Uber driver was viciously attacked in Bellingham and law enforcement is continuing to investigate the case as a hate crime.
“The Sikh American community is part of the great diversity that helps Washington thrive,” said Senator Das. “We are strongest when we stand together, and this resolution recognizes the vital contributions and deep community roots of Sikh Americans. Their commitment to community service and unity has woven neighbors and families together throughout history.”
In addition to raising Sikh awareness through local government, Sikhs in Washington are equipping educators to teach about Sikhism accurately in the classroom through the C3 framework. After the hate crime in Kent, Washington’s Sikh community leaders also organized a hate crime forum focused on hate crime prevention alongside public officials, law enforcement, and interfaith leaders.
SENATE RESOLUTION
8696
By Senators Das, Dhingra, Wellman, Nguyen, Carlyle, Stanford, Wilson, C., Saldaña, Lovelett, Liias, McCoy, Hobbs, Zeiger, Holy, Warnick, Hasegawa, Darneille, Brown, Short, Rolfes, Mullet, Randall, Salomon, Cleveland, Takko, Hunt, Keiser, Billig, Walsh, Wilson, L., Schoesler, Fortunato, Becker, Muzzall, King, Wagoner, Hawkins, Frockt, and Kuderer
WHEREAS, Sikhism is a religion founded in the Punjab region of South Asia over five centuries ago and introduced to the United States in the 19th century; and
WHEREAS, Sikhism is the fifth largest world religion with approximately twenty-five million adherents from diverse backgrounds throughout the world, including an estimated five hundred thousand adherents in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Sikhs in the United States pursue diverse professions and walks of life, making rich contributions to the economic vibrancy of the United States; and
WHEREAS, Washington prides itself on being a state where people of all faiths and cultures are welcomed and respected; and
WHEREAS, During the month of April, the Sikh community celebrates Vaisakhi, also known as Khalsa Day, which marks the beginning of the harvest season and the Sikh New Year; and
WHEREAS, Vaisakhi is one of the most religiously significant days in Sikh history, commemorating the creation of the Khalsa, a fellowship of devout Sikhs, by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699; and
WHEREAS, The local Sikh community will be celebrating Vaisakhi on May 9th, 2020, at the Kent ShoWare Center, showcasing Sikh heritage and culture;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate of the state of Washington wish our Sikh American community a very joyous Vaisakhi celebration.
I, Brad Hendrickson, Secretary of the Senate, do hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of Senate Resolution 8696, adopted by the Senate
February 28, 20208
BRAD HENDRICKSON
Secretary of the Senate