Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant recently proposed legislation to ban caste discrimination in the city, making it the first in the United States to do so. The legislation aims to address discrimination faced by South Asian communities, particularly those of Dalit descent.
The legislation, which was introduced at the council’s meeting on Monday, would make it illegal for businesses and landlords to discriminate against individuals based on their caste. It would also require city departments to provide training on the issue to their employees.
Sawant, who is of Indian descent, said the legislation is needed to address the discrimination that Dalits, also known as “untouchables,” face in the South Asian community. “Caste discrimination is a pervasive and insidious form of oppression that affects millions of people, not just in South Asia but also in diaspora communities like ours,” she said.
The legislation is supported by the Ambedkar International Center, a Seattle-based organisation that works to promote the values of Indian civil rights leader B.R. Ambedkar. The centre’s president, Dr. Raja Swamy, said the legislation is a “historic step” in the fight against caste discrimination.
“This legislation sends a strong message that Seattle will not tolerate discrimination of any kind, including caste-based discrimination,” Swamy said. “It is a reminder that we must all work together to create a more inclusive and equitable society.”
The legislation is currently being reviewed by the council’s civil rights committee and will be put to a vote in the coming weeks. If passed, Seattle would become the first city in the United States to make caste discrimination illegal, setting a precedent for other cities to follow.
The legislation aims to eliminate discrimination based on caste in Seattle, making it the first city in the United States to do so. The bill will make it illegal for businesses and landlords to discriminate against individuals based on their caste, and will also require city departments to provide training on the issue to their employees. The bill is currently being reviewed by the council’s civil rights committee and will be put to a vote in the coming weeks. If passed, Seattle would become the first city in the United States to make caste discrimination illegal, setting a precedent for other cities to follow.
