Saldef And Department Of Homeland Security Release Kirpan Poster

[Simran9]

http://www.saldef.org/anm/articlefiles/160...rpan_Poster.jpg

SALDEF and Department of Homeland Security Release Kirpan Poster

Wednesday 29th of November 2006

Rajbir Singh Datta (SALDEF)

Poster to be Distributed to 8,700 Federal Facilities Nationwide - SALDEF Asks for Community's Support to Continue Awareness, Empowerment Efforts

Washington, D.C.- Yesterday, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) released a poster explaining the Sikh Kirpan, produced in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The poster, entitled Sikh Americans and the Kirpan, provides a brief introduction to the Kirpan, a Sikh article of faith, and security recommendations for law enforcement officials when they come in contact with a Kirpan.

The Kirpan poster was formally unveiled in a joint SALDEF – DHS roll out event yesterday at the National Gurdwara in Washington, D.C. The Kirpan, a religious sword, which serves as a constant reminder to a Sikh's duty to uphold justice, has often caused law enforcement officials across the country much confusion. This poster, a product of extensive collaboration between DHS and SALDEF, will be used to inform thousands of federal law enforcement officers and security screeners about the religious significance of the Kirpan to Sikhs.

Speaking during the event, Daniel Sutherland, Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at DHS commended SALDEF for its efforts in producing the poster. Mr. Sutherland stated: "We recognize the need to balance homeland security requirements with the ability of you as a Sikh to practice your faith. This poster is a tool to increase awareness about the Kirpan and enhance learning and understanding of your culture."

"This poster is one part of an ongoing effort by SALDEF to change the way law enforcement in the United States view the Kirpan." said SALDEF co-founder and Board Chairman Manjit Singh. "The increased awareness about the Kirpan among federal law enforcement officials will help in the appropriate handling and ensure a positive interaction between Sikh Americans and Federal law enforcement personnel."

Dean Hunter, Director of the Federal Protective Service, the main DHS agency which sponsored the poster, stated, "this is a win-win situation resulting from our partnership with SALDEF to develop the Kirpan poster. The poster will be distributed to 8,700 federal facilities across the country." The Office of Federal Protective Service (FPS) is a branch of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is responsible for the security of several thousand owned and leased Federal buildings, facilities, properties and other federal assets. The FPS is a force of 2,000 federal police officers which provides security police services to U.S. Federal buildings and other properties.

Including the Federal Protective Services (FPS), other agencies part of the three-year-old Department of Homeland Security include Transportation Security Agency (TSA), Immigration and Custom's Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), US Coast Guard and the Secret Service to name a few.

SALDEF similarly collaborated with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2004 on a project to produce a poster entitled Common Sikh American Head Coverings. The purpose of that poster was to provide local, state and federal law enforcement officials with basic information about the Sikh faith, the significance of the Daastar (turban), and provide recommendations on handling the Daastar when interacting with Sikh Americans.

The DHS Kirpan Poster is available on SALDEF's website at www.saldef.org.

http://www.panthic.org/news/123/ARTICLE/2931/2006-11-29.html

[Guest s133k_s1kh]

I read about this a week back. Its good to inform people about SIKHI.

I would like to get Sangat's views on Picture F(Wearing miniature kirpan around the neck). Do you think it is SIKH maryada to have a small piece of metal around the neck ??