Thursday, January 10, 2013

Sikhs in New York: Police Officers & Hate Crimes

Discussion Outline:
  • Police officers in any police department have a strict dress code. What are examples of what police officers must wear?
    • Can police men in New York have beards? (Answer: no) Why would NYPD have this rule? (Answer: gas masks, see below in bold)
  • Sikh is a religion. Where do many Sikhs come from? (Answer: Northern India) According to this religion, men must have full beards and don't cut their hair. They wrap their hair into turbans. (see picture below)
  • How does the Sikh religious practice and NYPD rule conflict?
  • What are Sikh people in New York trying to get NYPD to change?
  • If you were in charge of the NYPD, would you change this rule? Why?
  • Bonus Questions: Many people have confused Sikh men and boys with Muslims, who sometimes also wear turbans. This has caused some Sikhsto be the victim of hate crimes in America. See example below of an instance where this happened (article below on Sikh hate crime).
    • How could having Sikh police officers help people learn about the Sikh community and better protect that community?
  • Map: Where is India? Where is New York?
  • iPad: google "Sikh police officer"
http://religiousfreedomnews.org/sikhs-push-for-change-in-nypd-dress-code-20130107

Hate Crime Attack on Sikh Boy in School: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/26/nyregion/26bias.html


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