In another significant moment for the movement against caste discrimination in the United States, a Bill to make caste discrimination illegal was passed by the California State Assembly on Monday, August 28, with 50 votes in its favour and only three against it. It was earlier passed by the state's Senate in May this year. With its passage in the state Assembly, California will become the first US state to ban caste discrimination.
The legislation will add caste as a protected category under 'ancestry' in California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, Education, and Housing codes. The Bill will now move to the Senate for its final concurrence vote on the amended version of the Bill, before the Governor signs it into official state law.
"The Assembly Vote is a win for the ages. After conducting over 700 advocacy meetings across the entire state of California, the people have spoken resoundingly for caste equity protections," Thenmozhi Soundararajan of Equality Labs, one of the organisations involved in the movement to recognise caste-based discrimination in the United States said. "As a Californian who has endured caste my whole life, I know the struggles and adversity caste-oppressed Californians have unjustly faced firsthand. Caste-oppressed people have organized for over twenty years so we could have lives free from violent attacks and discrimination; now, the California Assembly has voted decisively to bring us closer to victory." Thenmozhi said.
The development comes after Senator Aisha Wahab, a Democratic Party lawmaker, authored and introduced the SB-403 Bill, a legislation that proposed adding caste as a protected category in the state's anti-discrimination laws along with gender, race, religion and disability. The Bill was passed by the state's senate in May with a 34-1 vote. Earlier in February, Seattle became the first city in the US to outlaw caste discrimination.
The movement to add caste as a protected category in the United States is propelled by a multi-faith and inter-caste coalition of Dalit and human rights organisations coordinated by Equality Labs.
However, the Bill met strong opposition from a section of Indian-American residents who argue that it will 'discriminate against Hindus' and 'racially profile select communities on the basis of their ethnicity and ancestry for disparate treatment'.
Today, we are celebrating the passage of SB403 by the California Assembly! This historic bill would broaden legal protections for caste-oppressed communities throughout the state. https://t.co/jymRje9ltd pic.twitter.com/fMc0UdSvPx
— Equality Labs (@EqualityLabs) August 28, 2023
The stunning vote count! A mark in history as no matter where folks stood the California legislature acknowledged caste discrimination and helped us turn pain into power!! pic.twitter.com/lLv5BNCFGT
— Dalit Diva (@dalitdiva) August 28, 2023
We did it! #SB403 has made it out of the California State assembly! with 50-Yes and 3-No. JAI JAI JAI JAI JAI BHIM!
— Obed Manwatkar (@obed_manwatkar) August 28, 2023
हमने कर दिखाया, अमेरिका की कैलिफ़ोर्निया स्टेट असेंबली में जातीवाद के ख़िलाफ़ बिल पास हुआ।जय जय जय जय #JaiBhim pic.twitter.com/6IgVaj0kNd
In a historic vote that will be remembered for generations, the California State Assembly, #USA has approved Bill SB 403 with a 50-3 majority, in a groundbreaking legislation that bans caste-based discrimination, marking a significant leap towards an equitable and just society.…
— Dr.RS Praveen Kumar (@RSPraveenSwaero) August 29, 2023