GLEN ROCK BOROUGH, N.J. (Bergen County) — U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer on Dec. 19 announced new bipartisan legislation designed to address rising anti-Sikh discrimination and hate crimes, standing alongside Sikh community leaders at the Glen Rock Gurdwara.
Gottheimer, D-N.J., introduced the Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act, which would establish a task force within the U.S. Department of Justice focused on identifying, documenting and preventing anti-Sikh hate and discrimination nationwide.
Sikhs are the third most-targeted religious group in the United States, with 153 attacks reported last year. New Jersey is home to one of the country’s largest Sikh populations, with an estimated 100,000 Sikh residents.
The proposed legislation would create a DOJ task force responsible for drafting a definition of anti-Sikh hate, developing educational programs on anti-Sikh discrimination for K-12 schools, law enforcement agencies and higher education institutions, producing an annual report to Congress on hate crimes against Sikhs, and meeting regularly with Sikh community organizations.
“We know that there is no place for hate or intolerance here in the greatest country in the world. That’s why we cannot remain silent as our Sikh brothers and sisters are attacked day in and day out,” said Gottheimer, a member of the bipartisan American Sikh Congressional Caucus. “If we allow hatred, bigotry, and intolerance to go unchecked, then we risk abandoning the very principles upon which our country was founded. So, today, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting religious freedom and tolerance, and to working toward a world where all people are free to practice their faith without fear or discrimination.”
Gottheimer was joined at the announcement by representatives from the Sikh Coalition, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the New Jersey Sikh Gurdwara Council and the New Jersey Sikh Youth Alliance.
“On behalf of the Sikh Coalition, we are grateful to Congressman Gottheimer and his team for championing the safety of Sikhs, gurdwarae, and sangats. We know that nationwide, Sikhs remain disproportionately more likely to experience hate than the average American; sadly, hateful rhetoric and hate crimes against too many minority communities are on the rise,” said Rucha Kaur, managing director of education and community development at the Sikh Coalition. “By creating a task force focused on naming, documenting, and preventing hate crimes and other forms of discrimination against Sikhs, this bill takes an important step toward accountability, prevention, and ensuring that Sikh communities can live and worship safely and without fear.”
Bhupindar Singh, outreach lead for the New Jersey Sikh Youth Alliance Inc., said the legislation would provide clarity and tools needed to address discrimination.
“For too long, the Sikh community has lived in the shadow of prejudice and systemic exclusion because the law lacked a clear framework to define the specific hate we face,” Singh said. “By establishing a formal federal definition, this bill provides law enforcement and educators with the vital tools to identify, track, and ultimately prevent anti-Sikh hate and discrimination. We are proud to stand with Congressman Gottheimer for transforming a shared vision into a legislative reality for Sikhs across the nation.”
Jaslin Kaur, senior outreach manager at SALDEF, pointed to broader threats facing immigrant communities.
“The looming threat of transnational repression and targeting of our immigrant communities have left Sikh Americans vulnerable,” Kaur said. “Despite these challenges, we maintain the spirit of sarbat da bhala in advocating for the safety and dignity of all Americans. SALDEF applauds Representative Gottheimer for taking this historic step to addressing decades of underreported instances of anti-Sikh hate.”
Yadvinder Singh, president of the New Jersey Sikh Gurdwara Council, said the bill reinforces core American values.
“It’s important for Congress to affirm its commitment to confronting hate, discrimination, and violence directed at religious minorities,” he said. “Acts of anti-Sikh hate not only undermine the safety and dignity of the Sikh community, but also threaten the foundational American principle of equality.”
