Sikh American Soldier Speaks at Congressional Briefing ~ (Photos/Videos)

Editorial Note: This video is from the US Congressional hearing that helped the US Defense Department decide to issue new guidelines for the wearing of religious articles for members of the military.

January 17, 2014 (Washington, DC) – On January 8, 2014, the Sikh Coalition—in partnership with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and the law firm McDermott Will & Emery—organized a Congressional briefing to highlight ongoing challenges faced by Sikhs who wish to serve in the U.S. military. Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi spoke about his military career and barriers to religious liberty for Sikhs who wish to join the U.S. military.

Click here to watch a video of the entire briefing
Click here to watch highlights from the briefing
Click here to view photos from the briefing

The Sikh Coalition is grateful to its friends at the Becket Fund and McDermott Will & Emery, and to Major Kalsi, for their partnership on this groundbreaking campaign. We are also grateful to Representatives Joseph Crowley, Rodney Frelinghuysen, David Valadao, and Judy Chu for building momentum in Congress to end the presumptive ban on Sikh articles of faith in the U.S. military.

How You Can Help
Since 2009, three Sikh Coalition clients—Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, Captain Tejdeep Singh Rattan, and Corporal Simran Preet Singh Lamba—have received rare and historic accommodations to serve in the U.S. Army with their articles of faith intact. These soldiers have won awards and promotions and courageously proved that Sikhs can make great soldiers without abandoning their faith. Now we must support them by expanding opportunities for all Sikh Americans who wish to serve their nation.

Click here to sign a petition to President Obama
Click here to send a letter to your member of Congress

The ban on Sikh articles of faith in the U.S. military is one of the last institutional barriers to religious liberty for Sikhs in the United States. Your petitions and letters will make a difference.