California governor must explain how caste-based discrimination is prohibited in US

The International Commission for Dalit Rights (ICDR) statement condemning California Governor’s veto of historic bill combating caste-based discrimination:

***

The International Commission for Dalit Rights (ICDR) is deeply disappointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Oct 7 decision to veto SB403, a historic bill that would have explicitly clarified that caste-based discrimination is illegal in the state of California. Authored by State Senator Aisha Wahab, the bill was easily passed in both houses of the California State Legislature.
ICDR and members of the National Coalition Against Caste Discrimination, together with scholars and civil rights groups, sent a letter to Gov. Newsom on October 4, urging him to sign SB403. The letter stated that “There is much documented evidence of dominant-caste individuals in the United States excluding, exploiting, bullying, harassing and discriminating against people from marginalized castes such as Dalits in private and public settings such as employment and housing.”
Legislation like SB403 would have been a historic step forward for civil rights in California, by explicitly adding “caste” under the category of ancestry and including definitions of caste in the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Fair Employment and Housing Act, and Education Code.
In his statement, Gov. Newsom argued that SB403 was unnecessary “because discrimination based on caste is already prohibited under … existing categories.” However, we have witnessed first-hand that many victims of caste-based discrimination in the United States do not report these events because of fear of not being heard or understood by people in power, who may not be familiar with caste. Explicitly including caste in civil rights legislation would have paved a path forward for individuals facing caste-based discrimination in the state of California. We call on the Governor’s office to provide a complete legal definition of how caste-based discrimination is already prohibited under existing categories.
We are heartened to see that the movement for SB403 brought together a wide range of civil society organizations and coalitions, such as Californians for Caste Equity, Equality Labs, America Against Caste Discrimination, and the country’s leading bar associations. ICDR and the National Coalition Against Caste Discrimination are proud to have added our voices to this multi-faith, multi-racial movement committed to equity and justice for all. Fighting caste-based discrimination is not about targeting any specific religious community; this is a civil rights struggle that affects many different religious and ethnic communities. We will continue to promote the rights of Dalit and other marginalized communities in the United States and globally through advocacy, research, and leadership and community development.

Comments

From algorithms to exploitation: New report exposes plight of India's gig workers

By Jag Jivan The recent report, "State of Finance in India Report 2024-25," released by a coalition including the Centre for Financial Accountability, Focus on the Global South, and other organizations, paints a stark picture of India's burgeoning digital economy, particularly highlighting the exploitation faced by gig workers on platform-based services.

'Condonation of war crimes against women and children’: IPSN on Trump’s Gaza Board

By A Representative The India-Palestine Solidarity Network (IPSN) has strongly condemned the announcement of a proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza and Palestine by former US President Donald J. Trump, calling it an initiative that “condones war crimes against children and women” and “rubs salt in Palestinian wounds.”

Gig workers hold online strike on republic day; nationwide protests planned on February 3

By A Representative Gig and platform service workers across the country observed a nationwide online strike on Republic Day, responding to a call given by the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) to protest what it described as exploitation, insecurity and denial of basic worker rights in the platform economy. The union said women gig workers led the January 26 action by switching off their work apps as a mark of protest.

India’s road to sustainability: Why alternative fuels matter beyond electric vehicles

By Suyash Gupta* India’s worsening air quality makes the shift towards clean mobility urgent. However, while electric vehicles (EVs) are central to India’s strategy, they alone cannot address the country’s diverse pollution and energy challenges.

Jayanthi Natarajan "never stood by tribals' rights" in MNC Vedanta's move to mine Niyamigiri Hills in Odisha

By A Representative The Odisha Chapter of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), which played a vital role in the struggle for the enactment of historic Forest Rights Act, 2006 has blamed former Union environment minister Jaynaynthi Natarjan for failing to play any vital role to defend the tribals' rights in the forest areas during her tenure under the former UPA government. Countering her recent statement that she rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta, the top UK-based NMC, despite tremendous pressure from her colleagues in Cabinet and huge criticism from industry, and the claim that her decision was “upheld by the Supreme Court”, the CSD said this is simply not true, and actually she "disrespected" FRA.

Stands 'exposed': Cavalier attitude towards rushed construction of Char Dham project

By Bharat Dogra* The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a 17-day rescue effort. All those involved in the rescue effort deserve a big thanks of the entire country. The government deserves appreciation for providing all-round support.

Whither space for the marginalised in Kerala's privately-driven townships after landslides?

By Ipshita Basu, Sudheesh R.C. In the early hours of July 30 2024, a landslide in the Wayanad district of Kerala state, India, killed 400 people. The Punjirimattom, Mundakkai, Vellarimala and Chooralmala villages in the Western Ghats mountain range turned into a dystopian rubble of uprooted trees and debris.

Over 40% of gig workers earn below ₹15,000 a month: Economic Survey

By A Representative The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, while reviewing the Economic Survey in Parliament on Tuesday, highlighted the rapid growth of gig and platform workers in India. According to the Survey, the number of gig workers has increased from 7.7 million to around 12 million, marking a growth of about 55 percent. Their share in the overall workforce is projected to rise from 2 percent to 6.7 percent, with gig workers expected to contribute approximately ₹2.35 lakh crore to the GDP by 2030. The Survey also noted that over 40 percent of gig workers earn less than ₹15,000 per month.

Fragmented opposition and identity politics shaping Tamil Nadu’s 2026 election battle

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* Tamil Nadu is set to go to the polls in April 2026, and the political battle lines are beginning to take shape. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state on January 23, 2026, marked the formal launch of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign against the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Addressing multiple public meetings, the Prime Minister accused the DMK government of corruption, criminality, and dynastic politics, and called for Tamil Nadu to be “freed from DMK’s chains.” PM Modi alleged that the DMK had turned Tamil Nadu into a drug-ridden state and betrayed public trust by governing through what he described as “Corruption, Mafia and Crime,” derisively terming it “CMC rule.” He claimed that despite making numerous promises, the DMK had failed to deliver meaningful development. He also targeted what he described as the party’s dynastic character, arguing that the government functioned primarily for the benefit of a single family a...

Search This Blog