Co-presenter: Discrimination Challenges of the AAPI Community

Nov. 14, 2023 - Sim J. SIngh Attariwala presented to the organization's membership at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights on the issues of Sikh discrimination. Co-presenter Marita Etcubañez, Vice-President of Strategic Initiatives at Asian Americans Advancing Justice, presented AANHPI community challenges.

Presenter: Powering Pluarism Summit

Jun. 22, 2023 - Sim J Singh Attariwala presented community and religious safety as a central focus for the summit participants. The case study focused on the work the Sikh Coalition has undertaken to combat hate violence and how prevention efforts can be undertaken by similarly situated communities facing hate.

Panelist: South Asian SolidarIty, IMPACT Summit 2023: The Next 100 Years

Jun. 14, 2023 - Sim J. Singh Attariwala provided remarks and perspectives on diaspora community solidarity to support civil rights and combat hate.

Other panelists included Nasar Ahmad of Repeal the Second, Safa Ahmed of the Indian American Muslim Council, Dil Bishkarma of the ICDR International, Ria Chakrabarty of Hindus for Human Rights, and Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer of New Jersey.

Panelist: AAPI Community Based Participatory Research Fair

May 4, 2023 - Sim J Singh Attariwala shared perspectives for RAND employees on community based participatory research needs for Sikhs and other Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian communities to address longstanding policy gaps of importance to the nation for public safety and national security. The panel also focused on methods to develop equitable policy solutions for underserved communities.

Presenters included representatives from Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), Empowering Pacific Islander Communities History (EPIC), American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC).

Panelist: Examining the Legacy of Bhagat Singh Thind, 100 Years Later

Apr. 20, 2023 - Sim J Singh Attariwala provided insights into the 1923 Supreme Court case United States v. Thind, where Sikh-American Bhagat Singh Thind attempted citizenship. This panel examined the intersections between Thind and race, caste, colonialism, its implications for religion and activism, and what we can learn from this history today.

Presenters included Tejinder Singh, Sparacino PLLC; and Prof. Sherally Munshi, Georgetown Law. The panel was moderated by Ashwin Ramaswami, Georgetown Law.

Moderator: Honoring Oak Creek, Charleston, and Pittsburgh Through Action

Jul. 26, 2022 - Sim J Singh Attariwala moderated a panel of speakers from communities harmed by hate violence—the Sikh community of Oak Creek, WI; the Black community in Charleston, SC; and the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, PA—along with Sen. Dick Durbin (IL), Sen. Gary Peters (MI), Rep. Grace Meng (NY) for a congressional briefing hosted by the Sikh Coalition.

Community panelists included Harpreet Singh Saini--the son of Paramjit Kaur, who was killed in the 2012 mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, WI; Pastor Eric S. C. Manning of the Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church, South Carolina, which was targeted in a mass shooting in 2015; Rabbi Jeffrey Meyers, who serves as Rabbi and Cantor for Tree of Life Synagogue, Pittsburgh, which was targeted in a mass shooting in 2018.

Panelist: Preventing Targeted Violence and Protecting the Safety and Security of Houses of Worship through Faith and Community Based Approaches in the US and in Europe

Aug. 17, 2021 - Sim J Singh Attariwala spoke about the uptick of targeted violence and safety and security concerns of faith and community groups, and outlined strategies to protect houses of worship and communities from additional attacks.

Presenters included Melissa Rogers, Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and Senior Director for Faith and Public Policy within the Domestic Policy Council; Marcus T. Coleman, Jr., Director, Department of Homeland Security, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships; Susan Schneider, Branch Chief, Active Assailant Security, Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; and representatives from Secure Community Network, Conference of European Churches (CEC), African Methodist Episcopal International Health Commission and President, Resource and Promotion of Health Alliance, Inc. (R.A.P.H.A., Inc.).

Panelist: Community Policy Briefing

Jun. 27, 2021 - Sim J Singh Attariwala briefed the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders on community policy issues on actions to respond to anti-Asian violence, xenophobia and bias. The briefing included remarks from Secretary Xavier Becerra, U.S. Health and Human Services; Erika Mortisugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and AAPI Senior Liaison; and other community leaders.

Panelist: Military Law Reception

Jun 22, 2021 - Sim J Singh Attariwala joined Amandeep S. Sidhu, Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP to discuss religious accommodation in the military, litigation and advocacy strategies that helped religious minorities serve in the U.S. Army. The conversation also focused on barriers in other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Panelist: Community Policy Briefing

May 27, 2021 - Sim J Singh Attariwala shared perspectives with federal policymakers on strategies to better protect houses of worship and minority communities from acts of mass violence.

Panelist: National Convening on Combating Anti-AAPI Hate

May 4, 2021 - Sim J Singh Attariwala discussed the history of hate against the AAPI community, current challenges, how the law enforcement community is responding to hate, the importance of representation and equity across sectors, and the need to stand up to hate and support survivors.

The convening included keynote addresses from Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff; U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona; Amanda Nguyen, CEO and Founder of Rise – a millennial-driven social change incubator for citizen lawmaking – and 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee; U.S. Congressmembers Judy Chu (CA), Ted Lieu (CA), and Grace Meng (NY); and Ohio State House Member Lee Wong.

Panelist: A Blueprint for Ending White Supremacist Violence

Apr. 16, 2021 - Sim J Singh Attariwala highlighted broad consensus positions from civil society on policies to tackle white supremacist violence while also respecting civil liberties and protecting vulnerable communities.

The convening also included perspectives from Capitol Hill with remarks from U.S. Senator Doug Jones (AL); and U.S. Congressmembers Andy Kim (NJ), Lauren Underwood (IL); and others.

Guest Lecturer: Religion and Politics in America

Jul. 1, 2021 - Sim J Singh Attariwala spoke with Professor Patton E. Burchett’s on litigation and policy issues affecting contemporary society and the impacts on civil rights and civil liberties of minority communities.

Panelist: Challenging Anti-AAPI Bias: How Targeted Communities Have Responded to Hate

Mar. 30, 2021 - Sim J Singh Attariwala briefed state policy makers on response strategies and lessons learned that could improve responses to backlash attacks against the AAPI community. Case studies focused on the anti-Sikh backlash attacks in the days and weeks following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on our nation.

Speakers included: Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul; Interim Commissioner Johnathan J. Smith of DHR; Jo-Ann Yoo Executive Director of the Asian-American Federation; Scott Richman, Regional Director of the NY/NJ Chapter of the Anti-Defamation League; Elizabeth Cronin of the NYS Office of Victims Services; and Gil Quiniones President & CEO of the NY Power Authority.

Guest Lecturer: Emerging Issues in Policing

Nov. 2, 2020 - Sim J Singh Attariwala was invited to be a guest lecturer with Professor John Firman. The course lecture identified the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion and current impediments in ensuring that law enforcement agencies across the nation reflect the communities that they serve.

Moderator: Anti-Sikh Discrimination in the United States

Sep. 28, 2020 - The panel explored what anti-Sikh discrimination looks like in the United States. Topics included anti-Sikh racism in the workplace, places of business, and law enforcement. Panelists also spoke to the difference in responses between the Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

Panelist: Civics & Chai: WiseUp and Get Engaged!

Aug 12, 2020 - Sim J Singh Attariwala discussed what it means to be civically engaged and shared examples of what strategies for successful collective engagement and how to maintain momentum.

The panel was moderated by Behzad Dabu, an actor, producer, and activist based out of both Los Angeles and Chicago. Other panelists included Alejandro Vera-Alejandro, staff attorney for Brooklyn Legal Services Corp A's, Preserving Affordable Housing Program; and Sheela Lal, a life long learner and political process enthusiast.

Panelist: The Pandemic of Hatred: Exploring the Rise in Hate Crimes Against South Asians in America.

Jul 22, 2020 - Sim J Singh Attariwala presented remarks on the significant increase in hate crimes, partly fueled by the rise of discriminatory rhetoric and policymaking of national lawmakers. Panelist were invited to share their expertise on the ways in which we can effectively confront and combat hate.

Panelists included Parag Mehta, Executive Director and Senior Vice President, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth; Anurima Bhargava, President, Anthem of Us; Amol Sinha, Executive Director, ACLU of New Jersey; State Senator Ghazala Hashmi, Virginia’s 10th District.

Panelist: Interfaith 2.0: Harnessing the Power of Interfaith Advocacy for Progress

Aug. 2, 2019 - Sim J Singh Attariwala spoke on inclusion, equality and justice—and the often overlooked role that communities of faith and conscience play in pushing for progressive change. Representatives of the panel included Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Sikh faith traditions.

Testimony: Perspectives on TSA’s Policies to Prevent Unlawful Profiling

Jun. 4, 2019 - Sim J Singh Attariwala testified to the full committee on the issues of discriminatory treatment of racial and religious minorities at our nation’s federalized airports and shared policy recommendations.

Testimony at the hearing was also provided by Janai Nelson, Associate Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc.; and W. Russell, Acting Director, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Homeland Security and Justice Team,

Panelist: Legislative Leadership Summit

May 16, 2019 - Sim J Singh Attariwala provided remarks on the shared civil rights challenges to immigrate, obtain citizenship, and jim crow laws that impacted the AAPI diaspora. The panel also outlined current challenges for Asians and South Asians face.

Panelists included representatives from Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC); Muslim Advocates; the Japanese American Citizens League; and OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates.

Moderator: Proactive Responses to Hate Crimes in the United States

Dec. 13, 2017 - This event was co-sponsored by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and the Sikh Coalition.

The Ongoing Challenge of Preventing and Addressing Hate Violence

Nov. 3, 2017 -

Panelist: Protecting Houses of Worship Forum