Sikhs seek distinct religious category for them in US Census
Friday, 05/05/2017
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
WASHINGTON: The Sikh-American community has urged the US Census Bureau to have a distinct Sikh category in the next 2020 census, a Sikh advocacy group has said. Allowing Sikhs to selfidentify in the 2020 Census would go a long way to making everyone count so that action can be taken to address bullying and hate crimes against the Sikh community, the United Sikhs said in a submission to the US Census Bureau.
“Stereotypes fuelled by the media, discriminatory policies and corrupted public attitudes toward immigrants, especially since September 11, 2001, exacerbate feelings of bigotry that result in backlash against the Sikh community like never before,” United Sikhs argued, according to a media release. Noting that Sikhs can trace their ancestry in the US back to at least 100 years when many came to California to work on the railroads, it said that then also like now, Sikhs faced bias, racism and xenophobia.
