FREMONT, California, USA—In partnership with the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and Bay Area community groups, the Sikh Coalition supported yesterday’s launch of a photography project on Islamophobia and post-9/11 ethnic and racial discrimination.
The project, entitled “Living in an Unfinished America: Shared Experiences of Discrimination and Resilience by Arab, Muslim, and Sikh Americans,” showcases the lived experiences of various community members through photography and narrative.
Click here to see photos from the event.
The exhibit was launched Thursday evening at San Francisco City Hall – bringing together community members and civic leaders to increase public awareness about these issues. Attendees were joined by Paul Henderson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Edwin M. Lee’s office, Tom Nolan, Chairman of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Alex Bastian, Assistant District Attorney for the Office of D.A. George Gascon, who all spoke in support of the initiative.
The Sikh Coalition linked the San Francisco Human Rights Commission to Sikh photographers in the Bay Area, who used photography to represent their own distinct Sikh experiences with discrimination and prejudice. Their pieces were included in the evening’s launch.
Susan Belinda Christian, the Chair of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission noted, “The San Francisco Human Rights Commission is proud to partner with our Arab, Muslim and Sikh communities on this important and timely project. It will increase public awareness around the long-term impact of discrimination and bias.”
This project was conducted in collaboration with various other community groups including Council on American-Islamic Relations, Asian Law Caucus, Arab Cultural and Community Center, Islamic Networks Group, the San Francisco Department of Public Health and District Attorney’s office.
Simran Kaur, Western Region Director for the Sikh Coalition, stated “This project addresses the various ways we see discrimination affecting Sikh Americans – in schools, airports and within the workplace. The photography exhibit is a valuable way of raising awareness around these issues.”
Learn more about the project here. The San Francisco Human Rights Commission will announce more exhibit locations and times soon.
