international
oi-Sanjay Kumar Jha
Published: Wednesday, February 22, 2023, 14:13 [IST] 
Image: Twitter/@cmkshama
Seattle has become the first US city to ban race-based discrimination. The Seattle City Council on Tuesday added race to the city’s anti-discrimination law. The resolution, introduced by upper caste Hindu Kshama Sawant, was approved 6-1 by the Seattle City Council. Proponents of the ordinance said that caste-based discrimination transcends national and religious boundaries and without such a law, those who face caste discrimination would not be protected.
Pramila Jaipal gave support
Prior to the vote, Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal voiced her support for the move. He said that caste discrimination has no place here anywhere in America. This is the reason why some colleges and universities have banned it on their campuses. Let us tell you that this is the first proposal of its kind presented in the city council of America. Supporters of this proposal are calling it an important step towards bringing social justice and equality.
Hindu American organization is protesting
The initiative was being led by Sankalp Equality Labs. Equality Labs said it is working with a network of over 30 anti-caste Ambedkarite organizations at the heart of this alliance. The Hindu American Foundation is opposing this proposal. They say that the real purpose of this proposal is to target the people of South Asia especially Indian Americans. HAF Managing Director Sameer Kalra said that this is a dangerous step. Institutionalized bias against all people of Indian and South Asian origin is being done in the name of preventing prejudice.
Cases of Hinduphobia will increase!
Many Indian Americans fear that codifying caste in public policy will lead to more cases of Hinduphobia in America. Kshama Sawant, who brought the motion, said, “We need to understand that even though discrimination against Dalits in America is not as visible as it is in South Asia, discrimination is a reality here too.”
About 5 million people of Indian origin in the US
Let us tell you that Indian Americans are the second largest American expatriate group in America. Quoting the 2018 figures of the American Community Survey, news agency PTI has told that 42 lakh people of Indian origin live in America. The Seattle City Council ordinance is similar to what the Equality Lab tried to bring to the Santa Clara Human Rights Commission in 2021. However, it was rejected after massive protests by people of Indian origin.
6-1.
And, with that the first-in-the-nation legislation on caste-based discrimination was passed in Seattle.
What an inspiring movement we built!
We thank Councilmember
@cmkshama
for sponsoring the ordinance and its advocacy.
Now,
#BanCasteInUSA
pic.twitter.com/O1kKjUrvfY
— Ambedkar International Center (AIC) (@ambedkar_center)
February 22, 2023
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english summary
Seattle became the first city in America to ban caste discrimination
