Posted on 09/28/2013 11:21:13 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows
On Jan. 16, Jagjeet Singh, 49, a long-haul truck driver from California on his way to pick up chickens for delivery in Texas, was pulled over for driving with a flat tire in Pike County, Miss.
Officers at a weigh station operated by the Department of Transportation demanded that Singh turn over his "kirpan," a 3-inch ceremonial blade carried by all Sikh men and frequently sewed into the waistband of their trousers, according to the ACLU.
"Contending, wrongly, that his kirpan was illegal, the DOT officer demanded that Mr. Singh turn it over. Mr. Singh tried to explain that he was a Sikh and that the kirpan was a sacred religious article," the ACLU wrote in a letter of complaint to the DOT. "In response, however, the officer laughed at him and mocked his religious beliefs.
"One officer declared that all Sikhs are depraved and 'terrorists,'" the ACLU said in its letter. DOT officers then arrested Singh for "refusing to obey a command" when he would not turn over his kirpan to police, according to the ACLU.
-snip-
Singh appeared in court on March 26, when, his lawyers said, he was further demeaned by Pike County Judge Aubrey Rimes.
"Court officers told him he had to leave because he was wearing a turban and the judge wanted it removed. He was intimidated and horrified," said the ACLU's Atwood.
Rimes allegedly called Singh's turban "that rag" and insisted he remove it or his case would be called last on the docket after everyone else in the courtroom had left. Singh refused to remove the turban and was called last.
According to the ACLU, Singh pleaded guilty to the charge of refusing to obey a command and paid a fine.
(Excerpt) Read more at gma.yahoo.com ...
Unfortunately cops and judges like these give the entire profession a bad name.
There is obviously a difference between a lawful order from a cop when you are violating the law and an arbitrary order to violate your religion.
I’m not for forcing employers to work around employees’ religion, as that involves private contracts—but government coercion is something else altogether.
Whoa—just read your claim that cops are empowered to stop and harass anyone walking the street who ever has driven a car.
That is a bizarre defense of a police state that isn’t and shouldn’t be the US.
I lived in Arizona when 9/11 occurred. I remember a high profile killing of a peaceful Sikh gas station and convenience store owner in Mesa, Arizona by someone who had views similar to yours: Change to our ways or go back to where you came from. The killer went on an ignorant rampage and tried to kill several people who wore “turbans”, thinking they were Muslims and should be punished for 9/11. He was eventually sentenced to death but after appeal, is serving a life sentence for his murderous crime.
This is not about our customs but of the Sikhs freedom of religion as citizens like everyone else in America. Their religion requires the men to wear turbans. These folks are not Arabs. They are not Muslims. They are a religious sect from India who left there because they were religiously persecuted minority by the Hindus. Thousands of Sikhs were displaced or murdered there 25 years ago. Many have fled to our country because they can practice their religion freely here because of our Constitution.
They have integrated into our society by working in a great many professions and jobs. They are peaceful, friendly and industrious. They do not pose a threat to our country. They are not trying to change our country to be like them. They fit in fine here if not people like you trying to put them down and telling them to leave because they don’t look like you. One of my customers in Arizona was a small neighborhood grocery store owned by a Sikh family. They were some of the nicest people you’d ever meet and as American as I am. The only difference was that their religion was different from mine.
Your approach to our country’s religious freedoms is embarrassing. People come to America to live in freedom, not to be exposed to hatred and bigotry like yours, the Texas DOT officers and judge, in this case, have exhibited.
I agree on full-faced veils and burkhas, but a Sikh’s turban doesn’t hide any more contraband than an average American’s clothing could.
Small point—I believe this incident occurred in Mississippi.
HOPE THAT GUY DON’T TRY TO BOARD THE BIG TIN TO LA WITH A PIGSTICKER UNDER THE BELT IN HIS PANTS....IF HE DO OLE ART E. FACK HERE IS GONNA BE A GUEST IN THE GREYBAR HOTEL..AND UNLESS WATER AND PLAIN BALONEY SAMMICHES IS SACRED SIKHY CHOW HE AINT ‘AGONNA BE HAPPY....’JUS SAYIN’
What customs of ours did he violate? Don’t American truck drivers carry knives sometimes? He wears funny headgear and won’t take it off in court? Orthodox Jews covered that one long ago.
I’m all for a moratorium on immigration and our present immigrants adapting or going home. But I think funny hats are on the unoffensive side of the fuzzy line, not like face veils which are way over on the unacceptable side.
first people here are confusing DOT officer with “police” officer in most states DOT officers are TSA type thugs with attitudes who quite enjoy harrassing people they think beneath them (truck drivers),second the reason he hassled him about the knife was he was driving a commercial vehicle, weapons are a no no but the law concerning knives is unclear again go back to rule #1, third there are alot of these men driving trucks in all my years I have never met a bad one, different yes bad no
In my 76 years I’ve heard of them but never seen one.
He should use the rag on his head to clean up grease on his truck or go back to wherever he came from.
Sikhs aren’t saints. There are enough of them in Vancouver to make Sikh gangs. Sikh terrorists blew up an an Air India flight in 1985, tried to blow up another, and Sikh bodyguards assassinated Indira Gandhi.
My husband worked for a company that was set up as a Sikh friends and family H1-B conduit.
Bring in enough of any group, in a high enough concentration, and you’ll import their conflicts and vices too.
If all head coverings must be removed in a court and/or the headpiece could conceal weapons or explosives then it needs to be removed prior to entry into a court room. Don’t like it? Go home and pout because sooner or later you’ll be going to jail and they’ll remove it for you.
Not sure why folks are attacking you here....its common sense
The judges comments were not tasteful...however....that judge has the right to have the Sikh remove his headgear in his courtroom. This is not Punjabistan
I was ordered to remove my headgear before entering stadium for football game yesterday....and my culture has a thing against facial sunburn (so does my health)
I know Sikhs are peaceful and not Islamics. However....each nation has a set of laws and mores...and should be respected
Also....ACLU is involved...and I don’t trust those folks. I’ve had enough Justice for Trayvon nonsense
Does the same "Constitutional logic" apply to driving the truck?
Agree...they are NOT mussies! They are actually banned in some mussie countries.
Both turban and small knife are requisites of the Sikh faith. Bravo to the Sikh for standing up for his faith. Would that more Christians would do the same.
Note...the Muzzies hate the Sikhs as much or more than they do Christians.
Very unfortunate. Sikhs are not a problem in this country.
I can’t go into my local courthouse without taking off my shoes, my belt, and my necklace. I’m pretty sure that I could have a tiny ceremonial knife.
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