Washington: The California State Senate in the US passed a bill on Thursday to ban race-based discrimination. The historic move would make California, the most populous US state, the first state in the country to ban race-based discrimination. Introduced by Senator Ayesha Wahab of California, the bill passed by a vote of 34 to one. Wahab is the first Muslim and Afghan American citizen elected to the California Senate.
Those who introduced the bill said that a similar bill is being introduced in the state House of Representatives, after which it will be sent to the governor for signature to make it a law. The bill ‘SB 403’ adds race as a protected category to an existing law. This law gives all people in the State of California an equal right of residence, benefits, facilities, privileges or services in all business establishments. Seattle Council Member Kshama Sawant welcomed the passing of SB 403 by the California State Senate. Sawant played an important role in passing the anti-caste discrimination law in Seattle.
Mohammad Javed, president of the Indian American Muslim Council, praised the California Senate for passing the bill. He said, ‘This is a historic moment for the Dalit community which has been fighting against caste-based discrimination for generations. The passage of this bill sends a strong message that caste discrimination has no place in California. This bill will provide much needed protection to Dalits and others.
He said, “We urge the California Assembly to pass this bill without delay and Governor Newsom to sign it into law.” Many Indian-Americans fear that codifying caste in public policy will The incidents of Hinduphobia (feeling of hatred towards Hindus) will increase in America. Indian-Americans are the second largest migrant group in the US. India had banned caste discrimination as early as 1948 and included it in the constitution in 1950.
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