• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Login
Newsletter
NRI Affairs
Youtube Channel
  • News
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Visa
  • Student Hub
  • Business
  • Travel
  • Events
  • Other
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Visa
  • Student Hub
  • Business
  • Travel
  • Events
  • Other
No Result
View All Result
NRI Affairs
No Result
View All Result
Home News

California Senate Passes Landmark Bill to Ban Caste-Based Discrimination

The recently passed SB 403 bill aims to safeguard individuals who have been subjected to caste-based discrimination and prejudice, providing explicit protections against systemic harm.

NRI Affairs News Desk by NRI Affairs News Desk
May 12, 2023
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
0
California Senate Passes Landmark Bill to Ban Caste-Based Discrimination

Source: DiyaTV

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Advertisements

The California State Senate has approved a bill, SB 403, that would prohibit caste-based discrimination in the state, making it the first US state to add caste as a protected category in its anti-discrimination laws. 

The bill was passed with a 34-1 vote and has now been sent to the State House of Representatives for consideration before it can be signed into law by the Governor. The proposed legislation, introduced by California Senator Aisha Wahab, would add caste as a protected category under the Unruh Civil Rights Act, which guarantees equal treatment in all business establishments in California. Non-profit group Equality Lab is leading the push for the bill.

The recently passed SB 403 bill aims to safeguard individuals who have been subjected to caste-based discrimination and prejudice, providing explicit protections against systemic harm. This bill also enforces strict legal consequences for those who attempt to evade responsibility or consequences for promoting or participating in such acts of caste-based violence. 

This bill comes as a landmark development, following the unanimous approval of the California Senate Judiciary Committee in April. Additionally, the Seattle City Council’s move to prohibit caste discrimination earlier this year, along with several resolutions recognising caste as a protected category passed by prominent organisations like the California Democratic Party, the California State University system, the Alphabet Workers Union, and technology giants such as Apple and Cisco have further cemented the significance of this bill.

Senator Aisha Wahab stated, “Caste systems are a social hierarchy that limits human potential, crushes spirits and causes intergenerational trauma spanning centuries. People suffer in silence, forever trapped in bondage. No education, marriage, wealth, nor generations can break the invisible shackles of caste imposed at birth.”

“Caste discrimination manifests as housing discrimination, unfair hiring practices, human trafficking, workplace bullying, and harassment, gender-based violence, rape, and murder. There simply is no place for this type of discrimination. SB 403 is a simple bill that does not harm nor target any specific community nor religion,” she added.

Advertisements

She further mentioned, “It clarifies that caste discrimination will not be tolerated in California under our Fair Employment and Housing Opportunity Act and the Unruh Civil Rights Act. It defines how caste systems may manifest and follows the Civil Rights Department’s authority for enforcement of violations. In fact, Cisco, the CSU system, Harvard, Seattle, and the California Democratic Party have all adopted explicit language to end caste discrimination.” 

Seattle Council member Kshama Sawant, a key figure in the enactment of Seattle’s anti-caste discrimination law, has expressed support for the approval of SB 403 by the California State Senate. Sawant welcomed the development, stating, “The California Senate has voted to ban caste discrimination, following our historic victory in Seattle in February.”

Following Seattle's historic Feb 21 victory, California Senate just voted to ban caste discrimination! The bill now goes to the Assembly.

Anti-caste activists, workers, my office won in Seattle, setting national momentum!

Solidarity to all fighting oppression under capitalism! pic.twitter.com/P6IwnujcFJ

— Kshama Sawant (@cmkshama) May 11, 2023

She went on to credit the efforts of anti-caste activists, union members, working people, and her socialist council office for building a movement that resulted in the Seattle victory, which in turn generated momentum both nationally and internationally. Sawant concluded her statement by extending her solidarity to all those fighting against oppression in a capitalist system. The bill will now be forwarded to the Assembly for consideration.

Thenmozhi Soundararajan, the executive director of Equality Labs and author of The Trauma of Caste, expressed elation on behalf of all Dalit Californians and caste-oppressed individuals worldwide, following the passage of SB 403 by the California State Senate. She described the achievement as a victory that is the result of years of Dalit feminist organising and stated that the goal of making the state a safe place for the entire caste-oppressed community has only just begun. 

While acknowledging that there is still a long road ahead with the bill, Soundararajan expressed her pride in the historical significance of the vote and conveyed her enthusiasm for collaborating with the California Assembly on this historic bill. She also expressed her gratitude to all the partners in Californians for Caste Equity who worked tirelessly to bring them this far.

Logo2
NRI Affairs News Desk

NRI Affairs News Desk

NRI Affairs News Desk

Related Posts

Indian-Australian Community Stands in Solidarity: Sydney Vigil Honors Victims of Pahalgam Terror Attack
News

Indian-Australian Community Stands in Solidarity: Sydney Vigil Honors Victims of Pahalgam Terror Attack

April 30, 2025
Melbourne Honours Legacy of Indian Social Reformers with Cultural Celebration
News

Melbourne Honours Legacy of Indian Social Reformers with Cultural Celebration

April 27, 2025
Explained: Do NRIs Need to Disclose Foreign Bank Accounts in Their Indian Tax Returns?
News

Explained: Do NRIs Need to Disclose Foreign Bank Accounts in Their Indian Tax Returns?

April 25, 2025
Next Post
Haryana Home Minister Calls for NRI Grievance Redress cell

Haryana Home Minister Calls for NRI Grievance Redress cell

NSW Police Seek Public Assistance in Identifying Suspects in Sydney Temple Vandalism

NSW Police Seek Public Assistance in Identifying Suspects in Sydney Temple Vandalism

Australian Labor Party vows to crack down on unregulated international education agents

Australian Labor Party vows to crack down on unregulated international education agents

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Sunidhi chauhan-X

Sunidhi Chauhan Lights Up Melbourne: A Concert to Remember

1 year ago
Indian Student Receives Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship in Nuclear Field at Rosatom Partner University

Indian Student Receives Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship in Nuclear Field at Rosatom Partner University

2 months ago
Goulburn Valley DAMA Australia Visa

Visa Update: ‘To recruit suitably qualified overseas workers’ Goulburn Valley in Victoria signs DAMA agreement

3 years ago
Under 19 World Cup Cricket team Australia harkirat bajwa Radhakrishnan

Two Indian-origin players in Australian U-19 World Cup cricket squad

3 years ago

Categories

  • Business
  • Events
  • Literature
  • Multimedia
  • News
  • nriaffairs
  • Opinion
  • Other
  • People
  • Student Hub
  • Top Stories
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Visa

Topics

Air India Australia california Canada caste china COVID-19 cricket Europe Gaza Germany Green Card h1b visa Hindu immigration India india-australia Indian Indian-American Indian-origin indian diaspora indian origin indian student Indian Students Khalistan London Modi Narendra Modi New Zealand NRI NSW Pakistan Palestine Singapore student students travel trump UAE uk US USA us visa Victoria visa
NRI Affairs

© 2025 NRI Affairs.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Visa
  • Student Hub
  • Business
  • Travel
  • Events
  • Other

© 2025 NRI Affairs.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
WP Twitter Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com