Richmond Hill, New York: On Sunday, October 2, 2016, UNITED SIKHS, International Civil & Human Rights Advocacy, (ICHRA), in collaboration with the Sikh Cultural Society Gurudwara of South Richmond Hill, New York held a free legal clinic to address and assess the legal needs of the Sikh community in Queens. The clinic aimed to address civil rights issues by presenting a “Know Your Rights” PowerPoint presentation, which UNITED SIKHS has used in the past to inform the community about what to do when confronted by law enforcement. The clinic also sought to address landlord-tenant, foreclosure, immigration and elder law issues and to assess whether there are other legal services needed in the community.
| According to Wanda Sanchez Day, Esq., the Acting National Legal Director for UNITED SIKHS, the clinic provided insight into the types of legal issues presented and on which the community is most in need. She states that legal service needs included advice about elder law and housing matters, as well as on immigration matters. Advice and advocacy about Social Security Insurance and property rights were also high on the list of issues people had questions and concerns about. |
| “What emerged from the clinic is an understanding that the Sikh community and the elderly in particular, have legal needs that are not being met,” states Ms. Sanchez Day. Many are at a lost about what to do and that there are means to challenge government adverse decisions on matters like these.” “Although no one wins all the time, speaking to an attorney who understands the issues is key to resolving the problems the community faces. Advocates are needed as a means to enable the families to keep scarce resources in the home and that is important for the financial and economic health of the community.” |
| People also came to the clinic to speak about their experience with hate crimes. One man stated that he was in a bathroom in a gas station when someone, unprovoked, fired several gunshots. He believed he had been the target of a hate crime. “In some communities, lawyers and advocates are often needed to help people file police reports about instances of violence,” states Ms. Sanchez Day. “When a person is attacked, a crime has been committed.” |
| Dismissing the attack as minor doesn’t allow law enforcement to see the bigger picture. In addition, when crimes are left unpunished those who suffer the violence are disempowered. We as a society cannot allow that to happen unfettered because it threatens the civic fabric upon which democracy depends.” |
| UNITED SIKHS has held legal clinics in the past and the October 2nd clinic was the first held in 2016. UNITED SIKHS hopes to raise sufficient funds through donations to continue to carry out this important work. |
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Issued by,
Manwinder Singh
Director, International Civil and Human Rights Advocacy (ICHRA), UNITED SIKHS
Tel: 646-688-3525
E: law-usa@unitedsikhs.org | contact@unitedsikhs.org
