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United Sikhs Plymouth-Canton Community Schools In Michigan Seeks To Find A Compromise On The Wearing Of The Kirpa

findingmyway

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Aug 17, 2010
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January 7, 2011
23rd Poh (Samvat 542 Nanakshahi)

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools in Michigan Seeks to Find a Compromise on the Wearing of the Kirpan
Superintendent has Issued a Temporary Ban Until a Resolution/ Compromise has Been Reached[/B]
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Highlights:


  • UNITED SIKHS and SALDEF have jointly engaged the School District and the local sangat to ensure that any concerns over safety are appropriately balanced with the fundamental right of Sikh students to carry the kirpan.

  • The Michigan State Constitution provides strong protection for free exercise of religion.

  • The Sikh community must make their voices heard and begin to engage and educate those who do not understand our articles of faith.

Michigan, USA: UNITED SIKHS is deeply concerned over the temporary ban of the kirpan from Plymouth-Canton Community Schools (P-CSS). Initially, the approach by the school was respectful and measured. The Principal of Bentley Elementary School recognized the religious significance of the kirpan and was inclined to allow the young Sikh boy to continue wearing his kirpan until the District convened a meeting to discuss a proper resolution.

However, Deputy Superintendent, Kenneth J. Jacobs, issued a memo that stated "until such time as a compromise is reached, any and all religious emblems that resemble a weapon are strictly prohibited." UNITED SIKHS and SALDEF wrote to the Superintendent to allow the student to continue practicing his faith while the District worked with civil rights advocates to fashion an appropriate resolution. Nonetheless, we are hopeful that the Superintendent is sincere when he wrote that the District values the "right of all students to practice their religion and wear religious symbols."

File
Kirpan with Gatra

Looking forward at the legal arguments underpinning this case, under the Michigan Constitution, any limitation to the free exercise of religion can only be met if a compelling governmental interest (highest threshold) is found and also if the least restrictive means are used. Hence, an absolute prohibition on the kirpan would likely violate Michigan's protection of religious freedom under the State Constitution because a complete ban would not be the least restrictive means.

UNITED SIKHS will strive to coordinate efforts with other civil rights organizations to ensure that our articles of faith are safeguarded. We emphasize that this is not an issue only for advocates, instead, it is an opportunity for all Sikhs to take the initiative to educate their fellow brothers and sisters about what Sikhi is and why our articles of faith are an inextricable part of who we are.

One effort by the Sikh community to reach out to their neighbors has already begun with the creation of a Community Forum on Jan. 6, 2011 at St. Thomas a'Becket Catholic Church in Canton. With the assistance of the Michigan Sikh sangat, concerned parents and general community members learned about Sikhs, their beliefs, their values, and how the five articles of faith inform the spiritual development of a Sikh. Also, a question and answer session followed where a more intimate dialogue between both Sikhs and non-Sikhs could continue.

UNITED SIKHS, SALDEF, and Sikh Coalition in collaboration with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU Michigan) will continue to pursue this case until an amicable resolution has been reached. Sikh students should practice their faith fearlessly without having to choose between religious adherence and obtaining a proper education.

Please see our previous efforts in protecting the rights of Sikhs to wear their kirpans: http://www.unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-12-10-2010-00.html
 

spnadmin

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Jun 17, 2004
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Thanks for uploading this story. One thing that is very helpful is the paragraph where the considerations made in law are spelled out very clearly. It also off-sets the hysterical coverage that is going on the in the blogosphere - where imho no one is really reacting to reality. Words like "sword" and "sabre" are being thrown around along with expressions of utter disbelief that Sikhs would want to be considered in a serious way. Once again the deportment publicly and behind the scenes by the Sikh parents, community and advocay organizations like SALDEV and United Sikhs is putting many sectors of media to shame by their balanced, calm efforts to seek redress within the law.
 

findingmyway

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In many many instances, if Sikhs stuck to their own terminology and raised awareness about what it means rather than using the closest but not matching English equivalent, eg sword for kirpan, then we would be better off!
 

spnadmin

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Jun 17, 2004
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It was not the Sikhs who were calling the kirpan a sword or a sabre. It was the crazy, entitled, me first, anti-immigration press and bloggers who do this. They are crafty and deliberately choose vocabulary that engages readers' emotions. After that there is no room left to ask if the article or news story was factual or fluff. Since this event first was reported, I have read nearly 2 dozen blogs that are that irresponsible. Media manipulation.
 

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