Photo above: Harinder Khalsa, the longest-serving turbaned Sikh American in a law enforcement position in the United States (Image courtesy of Sikh Coalition)
September 9, 2019 (Los Angeles, CA) – The groundbreaking photography exhibition featuring turbaned Sikh men and women from across the country will launch for the first time in Southern California. The exhibition, called The Sikh Project, will open at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 11th.
Sikhs wear articles of faith (including unshorn hair covered with a turban) to represent equality, justice, and tolerance for all. However, Sikhs have been the victims of a disproportionate amount of discrimination, harassment, and violence in the years that have followed 9/11. At the Museum of Tolerance, the Sikh Project exhibition will feature 28 portraits of Sikh American men and women of various ages that embody the triumphs, challenges, and diversity of the Sikh community in the United States.
The photo subjects have broken major barriers. They include a violinist and music composer who has performed on prominent stages all over the world; the longest-serving turbaned Sikh American in a law enforcement position in the United States; the first active-duty Sikh soldier to maintain his articles of faith while actively serving in the U.S. Army; a Sikh subway driver who, on September 11, 2001, drove a train backwards to keep passengers away from the violent chaos at Ground Zero; and many other Sikhs with amazing stories.
“When Sikhs first arrived in America in the late 1800s, a majority of them immediately made California their home,” said Sikh Coalition Southern California Community Development Manager, Inderpreet Kaur. “We’re excited to bring this exhibition to Southern California, and honor that history through contemporary stories.”
The project, in collaboration with the talented British photographers Amit and Naroop, captures the beauty of the Sikh faith and the depth of the Sikh American experience. First launched to critical acclaim in New York in 2016, it has reached nearly 50,000 Americans nationwide since as it travels from coast to coast, including Maryland, Illinois, Texas, and other states.
The Sikh Project exhibition is free to the public with paid admission to the Museum of Tolerance and will run from Wednesday, September 11 through Sunday, November 3. The exhibition is located at the Museum of Tolerance at 9786 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90035. Museum hours are Sunday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM; please note that the Museum is closed on Saturdays, as well as for holidays detailed here.
