9 US Congressmen have now signed on to
And Sikh Coalition has asked that US citizens become participants/advocates for the cause. See the email I received below. Then make a phone call following the advocacy blueprint that Sikh Coalition has prepared.
Step 1 - Read to Understand!
Headline: More Congressional Support Required to End Army's Sikh Ban
Byline: Success Depends on Community Action
Body: (Washington DC) July 22, 2009 - Members of Congress have now agreed to sign on to a letter calling on the US Army to end its policy of excluding Sikh Americans from military service.
To be blunt: We need more members of congress to sign onto the letter to the army to make a real impact.
We need you to take action: Call or Email your Member of Congress now. http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/1607/t/4695/content.jsp?content_KEY=2678
As we write, a team of a dozen Sikh Coalition staff members and pro bono supporters from the law firm of Mcdermott, Will and Emery are walking the halls of Congress. While they have visited 108 Congressional offices in the last 2 days, they need you to also contact your Member of Congress to deepen their impact.
Please make your voice heard! Please do your part. The community needs you to call or email your Member of Congress now.http://salsa.wiredforchange.com
Step 2 - The Blueprint for Advocacy. Follow these steps.
Look up Your US Representative's Phone Number
For more information on this or other actions you can take, download our Community Advocacy Toolkit! Click here and input your zip code.
During the Phone Conference
1. Introduce yourself clearly and state that you are a constituent
2. Briefly describe the issue:
* These Sikh soldiers are being asked to compromise between their religion and their wish to serve our nation
* Unshorn hair and the turban are mandated by the Sikh faith
* Sikh Americans have served valiantly in the U.S. Armed Forces for generations – through WWI, WWII, and Vietnam
* Sikhs have been able to serve in other nations’ armed forces without cutting their hair or removing their turban without hindering safety requirements or personal performance
* According to the 1987 Congressional Record, Congress intended for the DoD to allow Sikhs to serve, but that hasn't happened under the existing regulations
3. Do not divert from talking about Sikhs serving in the military
4. Let them know that in order to participate in the Congressional sign-on letter, they must contact offices of either of the following lawmakers: Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney or Rodney Frelingheysen
5. Thank the legislator or staff member for their time
6. Request an email stating the legislator’s stance on the issue
Step 3 - After the Phone Conference
1. Send an email thanking the official (see page 10 in our toolkit) and attach an electronic copy of the Congressional sign-on letter (see page 12 in our toolkit)
2. Inform the Sikh Coalition about your meeting and the legislator’s response
3. Email us: legislative@sikhcoalition.org
And Sikh Coalition has asked that US citizens become participants/advocates for the cause. See the email I received below. Then make a phone call following the advocacy blueprint that Sikh Coalition has prepared.
Step 1 - Read to Understand!
Headline: More Congressional Support Required to End Army's Sikh Ban
Byline: Success Depends on Community Action
Body: (Washington DC) July 22, 2009 - Members of Congress have now agreed to sign on to a letter calling on the US Army to end its policy of excluding Sikh Americans from military service.
To be blunt: We need more members of congress to sign onto the letter to the army to make a real impact.
We need you to take action: Call or Email your Member of Congress now. http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/1607/t/4695/content.jsp?content_KEY=2678
As we write, a team of a dozen Sikh Coalition staff members and pro bono supporters from the law firm of Mcdermott, Will and Emery are walking the halls of Congress. While they have visited 108 Congressional offices in the last 2 days, they need you to also contact your Member of Congress to deepen their impact.
Please make your voice heard! Please do your part. The community needs you to call or email your Member of Congress now.http://salsa.wiredforchange.com
Step 2 - The Blueprint for Advocacy. Follow these steps.
Look up Your US Representative's Phone Number
During the Phone Conference
1. Introduce yourself clearly and state that you are a constituent
2. Briefly describe the issue:
* These Sikh soldiers are being asked to compromise between their religion and their wish to serve our nation
* Unshorn hair and the turban are mandated by the Sikh faith
* Sikh Americans have served valiantly in the U.S. Armed Forces for generations – through WWI, WWII, and Vietnam
* Sikhs have been able to serve in other nations’ armed forces without cutting their hair or removing their turban without hindering safety requirements or personal performance
* According to the 1987 Congressional Record, Congress intended for the DoD to allow Sikhs to serve, but that hasn't happened under the existing regulations
3. Do not divert from talking about Sikhs serving in the military
4. Let them know that in order to participate in the Congressional sign-on letter, they must contact offices of either of the following lawmakers: Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney or Rodney Frelingheysen
5. Thank the legislator or staff member for their time
6. Request an email stating the legislator’s stance on the issue
Step 3 - After the Phone Conference
1. Send an email thanking the official (see page 10 in our toolkit) and attach an electronic copy of the Congressional sign-on letter (see page 12 in our toolkit)
2. Inform the Sikh Coalition about your meeting and the legislator’s response
3. Email us: legislative@sikhcoalition.org
