Judge Ordered Sikh to Remove 'That Rag' from Head, Says ACLU

GMA via Yahoo! ^ | 9/28/13 | RUSSELL GOLDMAN

[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.

[Labyrinthos]

You knew or should have quickly learned that the customs of people of USA are not the same as your home country. If you do not like them, do not come here. If already here, abide by our customs or leave. Do not expect peoples here to change to be just like where you come from.

The custom in our country is the right to peacefuly practice your religion.

[Frapster]

Best response...

[mrs. a]

Found this explanation of the knife:

*****
Kirpan: The sword is the emblem of courage and self-defense. It symbolizes dignity, self-reliance, capacity and readiness to always defend the weak and the oppressed. It helps sustain one’s martial spirit and the determination to sacrifice oneself in order to defend truth, fight against oppression and fight to preserve Sikh moral values. The rule is never to do injustice and never let anyone perform injustice.

A Sikh is a devotee first and to protect his devotion, a Sikh is a warrior as well. A real Sikh will never let weapons take the precedence over his spiritual values and devotion. A real Sikh will always help the one in need and fight for him/her regardless of the person’s caste, color or religion. When all other means of self-protection fail, the Sikh can use his sword to protect himself and others. A Sikh is never to use his sword to attack anyone.
*****

If I was in a situation where everything was heading south, I’d surely be happy to spy a Sikh. Someone told me that if you are in trouble and yell, “Help me, Singh!” that the Sikh is honor-bound to intervene for you. Note the comment that this is regardless of “caste, color or religion.”

[anton]

“We appear to have very different definitions of reasonable.”

I was in court Friday and a guy was told to take his hands out of his pockets or get kicked out of the courtroom. One has to tuck in the shirt, take off the hat, no sunglasses.

If a rag on the head is an article of faith and a commandment from a god, then I deem that unreasonable. You can think it anything you want.

[wiseone]

they should move to canuckstan,I recall photos of Canadian politician Paul martin, wearing a turban - that pink rag, sucking up for Sikh votes during an election,even the Mounty’s allow ragheads,pathetic

[R. Scott]

Entering California used to be real bad.

Leaving California could be bad too.
In the spring of 1982 I crossed into Arizona on I-10. It was like an international border. I was asked if I had any fresh fruits, vegetables or plants. I was waved through the checkpoint and immediately pulled over by police who were quickly joined by the federal border patrol agents.
I was riding a Harley FLH with an Hawaiian tag and had a heavy tan. They didn’t know Hawaii was part of the USA. I was asked for my green card. I had no idea what they were talking about, all I could think of was my active duty army ID card. That satisfied them and I was sent on my way.

[octex]

“Registration.”
************************
I have heard that on many TV cop shows for years, but have never understood what the hell it means.

Proof of insurance has the Vehicle ID number on it, as does the inspection sticker on the windshield. Those are linked to the license plate number, which the police can easily access via their onboard computers, and routinely do after pulling over a driver and before even exiting their car.

That info is used to determine if the car is reported as stolen or if the registered owner has an outstanding warrant.

Maxwell (the pig) only showed his license and GEICO card!

[Graybeard58]

Cops single you out for not looking like everyone else all the time.

When my oldest son first started driving, he got pulled over all the time and had his car searched, nothing was ever found. I went to the police chief to complain and he told me that his own son had been searched numerous times by the same police force and there was nothing he could do about it. My son confirmed that the chief was telling the truth about his son getting hassled too as he knew the kid from school.

I, on the other hand would probably make a good drug mule as I have never had my car searched when pulled over.

[Vaquero]

to all the Gomers who don’t know any better, the Sikhs are our FRIENDS.

Stupid Jackwagons.

[octex]

Just because you jump up to sqaut on the dunny where you come from, do not expect us to have to provide nonskid strips on the seat simply to conform to your expectations as it was back home.
****************************
When in the Navy in early ‘60s, my ship stopped at Tripoli, Lybia. The people there really smelled bad and the public restrooms were just small courtyards a couple of steps away from the streets. Those places were nothing more than holes in the ground in uncovered little yards. There were flat rocks for the peoples’ feet and around the holes, but otherwise it reminded me of being in the Boy Scouts and later the image emerged when out duck hunting. lol

[DaveA37]

And now the good Sikhs will sue the state and become an instant millionaire. Another victory for the good ol’e ACLU ba$tards. “America, What a Country!!!”

[LaRueLaDue]

To all you that said for the Sikhs to “ go back to their own country if they don’t conform” or some such nonsense:

A lot of Sikhs are born here and are citizens. They just follow a different religion and have different customs/requirements.

I grew up around a group of Sikhs and you would have to look hard to find a nicer, more patriotic, loyal and upright group of people.

The cops and the court in this place (and in others) need to have a bit more education than that provided in junior high education and a lot more judgement and discernment. What a bunch of losers.

[SgtHooper]

Yes, they do need to conform. While the police and judge were outta line here, and I agree that the Sikhs are fine people, they have no special consideration over the law. Extend this to burka-wearing women. We cannot let muzzies, fine or otherwise, get away with total coverage under such circumstances. They need to suck it up, and sue later.

[gitmo]

I can fully sympathize with this Sikh. I have a holy AK47 and a holy 9 mm semiautomatic and a ...

[octex]

Very good posting that’s a sort of synopsis of things Gibbs has said during the series. I saw that this week’s program to open the new season set a record for viewers.

I missed the program ‘cause I’m tuned into Rangers baseball and trying to get them into the playoffs. One game left!

[MD Expat in PA]

You knew or should have quickly learned that the customs of people of USA are not the same as your home country. If you do not like them, do not come here. If already here, abide by our customs or leave. Do not expect peoples here to change to be just like where you come from.

The custom in our country is the right to peacefuly practice your religion.

Because of their religious beliefs, orthodox Jewish men here in America also dress “funny”, wear long beards and “funny” looking head gear.

Amish men too.

In the case of the Amish, they have been here in America longer than most of us, arriving here in the 1720’s. Some orthodox Jewish families arrived in America during the same period as the Amish. The article makes no mention of where Mr. Singh was born but does say he is from California so it is possible that he or even his parents were born here.

“Sikhs have been a part of the American populace for more than 130 years. Around the start of the 19th century, the state of Punjab of British India was hit hard by British practices of mercantilism. Many Sikhs emigrated to the United States and began arriving to work on farms in California. They traveled via Hong Kong to Angel Island, California, the western counterpart to Ellis Island in New York Harbor.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism_in_the_United_States

I would also point out the treatment and hatred of the Irish, Italians, Chinese, Japanese and Eastern European immigrants during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

[Condor51]

I see nothing wrong with Sihks carrying their Kirpan Dagger. I've been carrying a knife almost regularly since I got my first Boy Scout Knife when I was about six.

I feel naked if I leave the house without at least having my Swiss Army Knife on me at the least when I go out, a Boot Knife goes with me too -- the Gerber Guardian Back Up is my favorite₍₁₎.

(1) There's less expensive ones like the Smith & Wesson H.R.T., and it's fine, I just like Gerber

[WKB]

Ms ping

[Condor51]

YIKES, error in above post, sorry.
Wish there was an Edit Function. I have one too many 'at the least' in there.

[bk1000]

"Perhaps an addition to the Bill of Rights is in order. Not only can a person be free to practice his religion, he must also be permitted to disregard reasonable rules (like taking one’s hat off in court) that are in conflict with such religion."

We agree! We agree!