Los Angeles Clippers Host Second Annual Sikh Awareness Basketball Game

November 20, 2015: On Saturday, November 14, the Sikh Coalition and the Los Angeles Clippers hosted nearly 400 members of the California sangat for the pair’s second annual Sikh Awareness and Appreciation game.

The basketball game, which fittingly fell during November’s Sikh Awareness Month, featured live Sikh entertainment and education, and reached nearly 20,000 Americans this past weekend, according to the Sikh Coalition’s release. The collaborative event with the National Basketball Association (NBA) was just one of several recent initiatives spearheaded by the Sikh Coalition, a community-based advocacy group that aims to work towards the realization of civil and human rights for all.

“The Sikh Coalition and the Sikh American community were thrilled to come out and support the L.A. Clippers,” Sikh Coalition Executive Director, Sapreet Kaur, said. “From our initial planning discussions to the special activities on game day, the Clippers organization was welcoming and excited to highlight the community during CA Sikh Awareness and Appreciation month. These are meaningful opportunities to showcase the rich diversity that makes our nation strong.”

Nearly 400 members of the California sangat joined the Sikh Coalition and the Los Angeles Clippers on November 14th as part of Sikh Awareness & Appreciation Month. Raginder “Violinder” Singh Momi (Raaginder “Violinder”) played the national anthem. Learn about Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month here: www.sikhcoalition.org/casikhs #CASikhs

Posted by The Sikh Coalition on Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Notable performances from the weekend’s game against the Detroit Pistons included a rendition of the national anthem by the popular violinist Raginder Singh Momi, also known as “Violinder;” Sikh color guard, featuring Sikh Boy Scouts and Sikh Girl Scouts; as well as Punjabi entertainment at halftime.

Other highlights included a show of skills by the Sikh youth basketball players, who played on the Clippers’ home court at the famous Staples Center arena, and a Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) PSA video, which was played during the game.

“The Los Angeles Clippers were thrilled to host and honor the Sikh American community,” Group Events Specialist Jeana Duran said in a release. “We understand how important the Sikh experience is to enriching California, and we’re grateful for the hard work and professionalism shown by the Sikh Coalition to make this happen for the second year in a row.”

“The Sikh Coalition did a fantastic job co-hosting this event with the L.A. Clippers,” Los Angeles sangat member, Jagdeep Singh, said in a statement. “It was incredible to see so many Sikh children have the unique opportunity to participate, from playing on court, to standing with players during the national anthem and holding the American flag as a proud Sikh color guard. This is one of many important initiatives happening to educate and raise the profile of the community this month.”

With two weeks left in November, the Sikh Coalition continues to work on a number of Sikh Awareness Appreciation events in California. On November 21, the group will be featured at the White House anti-bullying event in Los Angeles. Additionally, the Sikh Coalition is getting the word out with local awareness initiatives at libraries, schools, museums across multiple cities in California.