On Saturday (7th October), Governor of California Gavin Newsom returned the discriminatory and Hindubphobic Bill ‘SB403’.
In his letter, the Governor said that California law already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, colour, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation and other characteristics, deeming the bill unnecessary.
Senator Aisha Wahab tabled the bill, and it was titled “Discrimination on the basis of ancestry”. It was passed by the California State Assembly on 29th August this year with 50 Ayes and 3 Nos. However, the bill could not become law with the Governor’s veto.
The letter read, “To the Members of the California State Senate:
I am returning Senate Bill 403 without my signature.
This bill would define “ancestry” for purposes of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Unruh Act, and the Education Code to include “caste” and other dimensions of ancestry.
In California, we believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, where they come from, who they love, or where they live. That is why California already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, colour, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other characteristics, and state law specifies that these civil rights protections shall be liberally construed. Because discrimination based on caste is already prohibited under these existing categories, this bill is unnecessary.”
A PDF of the veto message can be read here.
Hindu groups applaud the Governor’s decision to veto
Hindu groups that were fighting against the passage of bill SB403 applauded the Governor’s decision to use his veto and return it. Hindu American Foundation issued a statement in which the members thanked the Governor and called it a “victory of the civil rights of all Californians.”
#Breaking | Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoes #SB403!
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) October 7, 2023
With the stroke of his pen, Governor Newsom kills a bill premised on racist rhetoric, a baseless lawsuit, egregious @calcivilrights misconduct & false claims about the Hindu religion.
Our statement:https://t.co/IZJCSvw854
In a statement, HAF’s Managing Director Samir Kalra said, “With the stroke of his pen, Governor Newsom has averted a civil rights and constitutional disaster that would have put a target on hundreds of thousands of Californians simply because of their ethnicity or their religious identity, as well as create a slippery slope of facially discriminatory laws. We thank Governor Newsom for listening to the thousands of voices that contacted his office and seeing that SB-403 was premised on racist rhetoric, a baseless lawsuit, egregious Civil Rights Department misconduct, false claims about the Hindu religion and South Asian community at large, and the self-serving, methodologically flawed, caste survey by Equality Labs.”
Samir Kalra, HAF Managing Director stated:
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) October 7, 2023
“Today, we at the Hindu American Foundation join South Asians across California and the Hindu American community in offering our heartfelt appreciation to California Governor Gavin Newsom for his historically important veto of SB-403.…
HAF Executive Director Suhag Shukla said, “SB-403 forced our community to find its voice. The months spent educating the community about their rights, providing trainings and tools to effectively advocate as constituents, peacefully assembling in protest, offering testimonies at the Statehouse, writing countless letters to legislators and Governor Newsom, and meeting with numerous offices have all paid off. We’re grateful to Hindu Americans across the state who have shown tremendous resilience and to our allies for coming together like never before.” She further added that HAF would stand with everyone who faces discrimination and hoped to work together as a community that SB403 intended to divide.
@SuhagAShukla HAF Executive Director stated:
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) October 7, 2023
“We at HAF have always said that any discrimination on the basis of ‘caste’ violates not only Hindu teachings, but also existing state and federal law. The fight over SB-403 has always been about the best solution for any…
Thanking Gavin Newsom, author and Hindu rights activist Pt Satish K Sharma said, “Thank you Gavin Newsom for the courageous decision to return #SB403 and prevent hatred of Hindus from becoming state policy. Great work California Hindus!”
Thank you @GavinNewsom for the courageous decision to return #SB403 and prevent hatred of Hindus from becoming state policy. Great work California Hindus!
— Pt Satish K Sharma MBCS FRSA (@thebritishhindu) October 7, 2023
Job done, @thebritishhindu is going home. CasteCon23 London.. coming soon. https://t.co/cOVseQs2Xg pic.twitter.com/qGaziTzw41
Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) said, “Delighted to see sanity prevail in #California. Thank you Gavin Newsom for vetoing #SB403. A victory for common sense, for American laws and a win for those who fought for #justice.”
Delighted to see sanity prevail in #California. Thank you @GavinNewsom for vetoing #SB403. A victory for common sense, for American laws and a win for those who fought for #justice.” 1/n pic.twitter.com/inIdYJtY3H
— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) October 7, 2023
They added, “This is a culmination of the efforts of the entire #HinduAmerican community, and the hundreds of organizations, temples, businesses, and allies that fought against #profiling. We rose above the lies, the insinuations, and the wild accusations – and we prevailed. Months of organizing, educating + reaching out to legislators; hundreds of thousands of emails + letters; the marches to #Sacramento. The hours of testimony; the great support from key legislators – To everyone who put in the effort, this is your victory. And that of Dharma.”
Months of organizing, educating + reaching out to legislators; hundreds of thousands of emails + letters; the marches to #Sacramento. The hours of testimony; the great support from key legislators – To everyone who put in the effort, this is your victory. And that of Dharma. 4/n pic.twitter.com/clTE29TcK7
— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) October 7, 2023
Dubious organisation Equality Labs, which supported the bill, expressed disappointment
Calling it heartbreaking, Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Executive Director of Equality Labs, the dubious organisation that supported the bill, said, “While it is heartbreaking to receive the Governor’s veto, it is not a reflection of the incredible democratic power that our communities showed.”
The organisation also got support from the Islamic terrorist organisations-linked Indian American Muslim Council (IMAC). In a statement, IAMC said they were “shocked, disheartened, and deeply disappointed” over the Governor’s decision.
Soros-funded Sikh Coalition also expressed disappointment and said, “The Sikh Coalition was proud to sponsor this legislation because we know firsthand the pain and trauma that comes with being targeted by hate, and the Sikh faith explicitly condemns caste discrimination. Accordingly, we joined more than 45 Sikh organizations and gurdwaras in California, urging Gov. Newsom to sign this bill. While we are frustrated by this failure to take a meaningful step forward for the civil rights of all, we will continue to fight for legislation that protects all communities—including the Dalit community—from hate and discrimination.”
Anti-Hindu bill SB403
SB403 is a so-called anti-caste discrimination legislation that is making its way through the Californian state legislature. California Senator Aisha Wahab tabled the bill. The dubious organisation Equality Labs is one of the bill’s biggest supporters.
The bill was completely based on the Cisco caste case that fell flat in January 2023. Despite the main case on which Aisha Wahab and Equality Labs based the bill was no longer effective in the court, the California State Assembly moved forward and passed the bill. O
Our detailed reports on the Cisco Caste Case can be checked here and here.
