South Asian Americans Leading Together, which turned 10 a coupple of weeks ago, started the dialogue to include the Transportation Security Authority in the End Racial Profiling Act, said Amardeep Singh, director of programmes, The Sikh Coalition, and, a commissioner of President Obama's Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Advisory Commission.
Speaking at the 10th anniversary of SAALT in New York, he said, "It's a very good example of how a local group, with local issues got their voice heard on a national platform, included in national legislation that affects the whole country."
Speaking about the issues suffered by South Asian communities especially after 9/11, Singh said, "The Muslim American community, particularly in New York, suffered in ways that were unbelievable after 9/11. Nobody talks about the fact that there were over 1,200 people who were detained without charge, without trial, without access to an attorney. That story hasn't been told. So what SAALT is doing for us, is helping us do that research so that those stories, in the lead up to the [10th] 9/11 anniversary, can be told and hopefully they are part of the national dialogue."
"The work SAALT is doing is critically important," declared Farooq Kathwari, CEO, Ethan Allen, and, commissioner, Obama's AAPI Commission.
"The strength of America is (that it is) a country that should be based on going forward not living in fear. Today we are living in fear. Organisations such as yours can help (America) move forward, help us live together, help us understand that fear is not the way to go."
SAALT, which started its mission in New York before moving to DC and finally settling down in Baltimore, has activities ranging from community service on Gandhi's birthday to joining hands with groups fighting racial profiling, rising xenophobia and job discrimination.
It has produced documentaries and has also issued booklets looking at the political situation from immigrant point of view.
Published close to the November elections, the SAAT study called 'From Macacas to Turban Toppers: The Rise in Xenophobic and Racist Rhetoric in American Political Discourse' analyses the intolerant remarks made by elected officials and those running for office.
The report, which has been discussed widely in the media and on National Public Radio, asserted that since 9/11, there has been an unprecedented rise in xenophobic statements that have specifically
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