Seattle’s anti-caste discrimination legislation — Prejudice or a burning want? | Explained

Seattle has turn into the primary US metropolis to outlaw caste-based discrimination after its native council handed a decision, moved by an Indian-American politician. Here’s all it’s essential to learn about it.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 22, 2023 21:19 IST

An image from press convention on why Kshama Sawant’s workplace launched laws to ban caste discrimination. (Image: Twitter/@cmkshama)

By Sahil Sinha: Seattle scripted historical past on Tuesday by turning into the primary American metropolis to cross a decision outlawing caste-based discrimination after its council voted in favor so as to add caste to town’s anti-discrimination legal guidelines.

The decision was moved by Kshama Sawant, a Seattle City council member and an upper-caste Hindu, and was accredited by the Council by six to at least one vote.

“It’s official: our movement has won a historic, first-in-the-nation ban on caste discrimination in Seattle! Now we need to build a movement to spread this victory around the country,” Sawant, the one Indian-American on the Seattle Council tweeted after the historic decision was handed.

It’s official: our motion has WON a historic, first-in-the-nation ban on caste discrimination in Seattle! Now we have to construct a motion to unfold this victory across the nation ✊ pic.twitter.com/1mBJ1W3v6j
— Kshama Sawant (@cmkshama) February 22, 2023

The decision has, nonetheless, not gone down effectively with a bit of the Indian-American neighborhood, as many are of the opinion that the decision targets the South Asian diaspora within the US.

Let’s delve into what led the Seattle Council to cross the decision:

WHAT DOES THE RESOLUTION SAY?

The newly-passed decision will put an finish to caste-based discrimination that has been allegedly rising within the United States, throughout many industries. Data from Equality Labs (a civil rights organisation) reveals that one in 4 caste-oppressed individuals confronted bodily and verbal assault, one in three confronted instructional discrimination, and two in three confronted office discrimination.

Additionally, an article printed in Real Change claimed that Seattle is among the cities the place caste discrimination “remains a largely hidden and unreported issue”.

An image from occasion in assist of Kshama Sawant’s laws to ban caste discrimination. (Image: Twitter/@cmkshama)

“The legislation will ban caste-based discrimination in our city. The legislation will prohibit businesses from discrimination based on caste with respect to hiring, tenure, promotion, workplace conditions, or wages,” an official assertion by Seattle City Council acknowledged.

“It will ban discrimination based on caste in places of public accommodation, such as hotels, public transportation, public restrooms, or retail establishments. The law will also prohibit housing discrimination based on caste in rental housing leases, property sales, and mortgage loans,” it learn.

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WHY THE RESOLUTION?

According to information from the 2018 American Community Survey (ACS), which was performed by the US Census Bureau, there are 4.2 million individuals of Indian origin residing within the United States.

Reports declare that the US is house to the second largest group of Indians dwelling overseas. Out of round 1.6 lakh South Asians dwelling in Washington, a majority of them are concentrated within the Greater Seattle space, making it vital for town to implement the decision. The Seattle Council believes that it should handle caste discrimination and never permit it to stay invisible and unaddressed.

The decision was moved by Kshama Sawant, an upper-caste Hindu. (Image: Tiwtter/@ambedkar_center)

Even India banned caste-based discrimination in 1948 and enshrined that coverage within the Constitution in 1950.

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WHO ARE OPPOSING IT & WHY?

The decision has generated intense debate amongst members of the Indian-American neighborhood, together with sure teams such because the Hindu American Foundation (HAF). A lot of individuals have alleged that the transfer is geared toward concentrating on the South Asian diaspora within the US, particularly the Indian neighborhood.

The Hindu American Foundation has even claimed that the caste-based discrimination legislation “singles out Hindus for additional legal scrutiny”.

“Seattle has taken a dangerous misstep here, institutionalising bias against all residents of Indian and South Asian origin, all in the name of preventing bias,” stated HAF Managing Director Samir Kalra.

The pro-Hindu group additionally believes that discrimination in opposition to the Indian and South Asian neighborhood, as per a survey finished by Carnegie Endowment, is uncommon in Seattle.

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Published On:

Feb 22, 2023