Caste ban in Seattle

|
  • 0

Caste ban in Seattle

Friday, 24 February 2023 | Pioneer

Caste ban in Seattle

Though caste discrimination is anathema to any society, in the US it has different connotations

Seattle in the United States has done in 2023, what India did in 1948. It has banned caste discrimination in the city. India banned caste discrimination and enshrined that policy in the Constitution in 1950. Now Seattle has become the first US city to legally ban caste discrimination. Its local council passed a resolution, moved by an Indian-American politician, to add caste to its non-discrimination policy.  This could have far-reaching implications on not only the issue of caste discrimination in the US but also on the discrimination of Indians on racial lines. Caste discrimination has no place in society anywhere in the world, including America. Equality Labs, which lobbied hard to pass the anti-caste discrimination resolution in Seattle   has been spearheading a nationwide campaign. Though banning caste discrimination anywhere is welcome but doing so in the US, it has different nuances and could actually harm the Indian community as a whole. The biggest challenge the Indian community faces in the US is not caste or religion discrimination but racial discrimination.

 Stratifying a community in this manner gives leverage to the perpetrators of racially motivated people. The Hindu American Foundation, which had campaigned against the resolution, has in fact condemned it, saying singling out South Asians in this manner and the addition of ‘caste' to the non-discrimination policy violates the the US constitution. The City of Seattle has voted to treat South Asians in a manner that no other ethnic or racial community is treated under the guise of non-discrimination. This may well be true as many Indian Americans fear that codifying caste in public policy will further fuel instances of ‘Hinduphobia’ in the US. Over the last three years, ten Hindu temples and five statues, including those of Mahatma Gandhi and Maratha emperor Shivaji, have been vandalised across the US as an intimidation tactic against the Indian community. Indian Americans are the second-largest immigrant group in the US. There are 4.2 million people of Indian origin residing in the United States. As a matter of fact, in passing this resolution, Seattle is now in violation of the US Constitution's guarantees of equal protection and due process that prohibit the state from treating  people on account of their national origin, ethnicity, or religion. Implementing a vague,  discriminatory and arbitrary category may actually end up harming the Dalits whom it seeks to protect.

State Editions

11 killed in Hardoi road mishap

07 November 2024 | PNS | Lucknow

Yogi to inaugurate Akanksha Haat

07 November 2024 | PNS | Lucknow

Prashant Kumar likely to made permanent DGP

07 November 2024 | Preetam Srivastava | Lucknow

Mobility crisis is behind pollution in city: CSE

07 November 2024 | Staff Reporter | Delhi

Delhi’s air quality ‘very poor’, smog blankets city

07 November 2024 | Staff Reporter | Delhi

Sunday Edition

The comeback man

03 November 2024 | Gyaneshwar Dayal | Agenda

DINING REDEFINED! WYNN MACAU DEBUTS DRUNKEN FISH

03 November 2024 | RUPALI DEAN | Agenda

Oktoberfest on a Platter

03 November 2024 | Sharmila Chand | Agenda

Vegan Wonders: Where to Eat Next!

03 November 2024 | Team Agenda | Agenda

LIVING IT UP IN AN AIRBNB IN LONDON

03 November 2024 | AKANKSHA DEAN | Agenda

Srisailam: A journey to spiritual splendour

03 November 2024 | VISHESH SHUKLA | Agenda