-- JAIKARA (Action Alert) --

For Immediate Release - 9/20/2001 SMART CALLS FOR ACTION AGAINST REP.COOKSEY

Germantown, MD - The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), A national Sikh American civil rights advocacy group calls on all Sikh Americans to participate in a national letter writing and telephone campaign protesting Louisiana Representative John Cooksey's comments insulting Americans who wear turbans and promoting racial profiling.

"If I see someone (who) comes in that's got a diaper on his head and a fan belt wrapped around the diaper on his head, that guy needs to be pulled over, said Congressman Cooksey, a Republican member from Louisiana who sits on the International Relations Subcommittee for the Middle East and South Asia (full story)

After his comments another Sikh man died and a young Sikh boy was shot at while driving in Maryland. Although the Congressman has made an apology saying he was targeting Osama Bin Laden, he has not apologized to the 500,000 Sikh Americans in the United States and continues to support racial profiling.

"We are very disappointed by the congressman's unpatriotic behavior. In a time like this, when the president has indicated that all Americans should stand together, we find it very sad that he is trying to divide us," said SMART's Executive Director, Manjit Singh. "Such remarks only further the goals of the terrorists, which is to weaken this diverse country of ours. We wish he would get in line with his own administration and President's thinking on this issue. We sincerely hope that he will be disciplined by his party." SMART urges all Sikh Americans to act by calling Congressman Cooksey's office at 202-225-8490 (use talking points provided below), fax (202-225) -5639, e-mail (http://www.house.gov/cooksey) or send a letter (a sample letter is provided below) to 113 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. --- END --- CONTACT: Sumeet Kaur Phone: 1-877-91-SIKHS (877-917-4547) Email: info@sikhmediawatch.org ----- TALKING POINTS 1. As a Sikh American, I am outraged by Congressman Cooksey's remarks. 2. In a country where our leaders have asked us to stand united as a nation and have strongly condemned violent hate crimes, why is the Congressman not acting with the President, Attorney General and other civic leaders across the nation. 3. Isn't the Congressman afraid that his comments are fanning the flames of hatred around this nation, encouraging people to commit illegal acts, and distracting the FBI from pursuing terrorists? 4. I would encourage the Congressman to issue a public apology to Sikh Americans who wear turbans for religious reasons, which he referred to in his remarks as a "diaper". ----- SAMPLE LETTER Dear Representative Cooksey: I am writing to you as an outraged member of the Sikh American community. Your remarks on Monday September 17 in a radio address, calling our turbans which are a mandated religious article of faith, a "diaper", risks inciting more violence in America against our community, just as leaders in your own party have spoken out against violence and hate crimes targeted towards Sikh, Muslim and Arab Americans. President Bush, Attorney General Ashcroft, Mayors, Governors and Members of Congress across the nation have denounced racism that has caused violent attacks against minority communities in this country. As Americans we are deeply offended not only by your insensitive comments, but also by your rebel stance, diving our nation in turmoil. Our national leaders, have also spoken out against racial profiling, a principle you have promoted in radio addresses and presentation lately. We would like to ask you if you supported profiling all Americans who looked like Timothy McVeigh after the tragic attack in Oklahoma City. If not, why not? Do you think we should lose our civil rights because the color of our skin? Through your recent statements, you have further strengthened and empowered an ignorant portion of our country that confuses Sikh Americans with terrorists like Osama Bin Laden. Sikhs do not culturally, religiously, or politically affiliate themselves with Osama Bin Laden or any other terrorist regimes. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world with over 22 million followers. There are approximately 500,000 Sikh in the United States today. We have been serving our country for over 100 years and have been trying to help with the relief efforts taking place across the nation. As Americans we will not tolerate your remarks and would like to encourage you to issue a public apology for your ignorant statements and stand united with your own party leaders. We will also be willing to educate you and your staff further about Sikhism through educational materials available through the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a Washington, DC based national Sikh civil rights advocacy group. Information is available online at www.sikhmediawatch.org, or you may contact SMART via e-mail at info@sikhmediawatch.org or call its toll-free number 877-91-SIKHS (877-917-4547). Thank you for your time and cooperation. We look forward to hearing your formal apology. Sincerely, Concerned Sikh American ----- About SMART: Founded in 1996 to promote the fair and accurate portrayal of Sikh Americans and the Sikh religion in American media and society, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. Its mission is to combat bigotry and prejudice, protect the rights and religious freedoms of Sikh Americans, and provide resources that empower the Sikh American community. Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART) P.O. Box 1761 Germantown, MD 20875-1761 Tel: 877-91-SIKHS (TOLL FREE) Fax: 202-318-4433 Email: info@sikhmediawatch.org Web: http://www.sikhmediawatch.org/

Last updated on : November 11, 2001