Apology from Union Mission


Published/Last Modified on Monday, December 8, 2008 11:44 AM EST

Lance Martin, Herald Senior Staff Writer
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ROANOKE RAPIDS—  The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund along with several other interfaith organizations are demanding an apology from the Roanoke Rapids Union Mission to a man whose donation was turned down because he declined to remove his turban.

The incident happened last month when ‘Gary’ Khera attempted to contribute to the cause of the R.R. Union Mission and was turned away by Executive Director Ron Weeks.

The apology request was in the form of a letter e-mailed and faxed to the Union Mission board chairman Jeff Holm’s attention on Friday.

When the Daily Herald contacted Holm by phone yesterday to ask if the board had made a decision on the matter, his response was, “We made a board decision to make no comment to you and that’s all I have to say,” Holms then hung up the phone. We were unable to ask any other questions

The letter, written by Rajdeep Singh Jolly, legal director of SALDEF, says the organizations are writing to “express grave concern about the expulsion of Mr. Gurnam Singh ‘Gary’ Khera — a Sikh American donor — by (the) Union Mission of Roanoke Rapids because of his religiously-mandated Dastaar (Sikh turban).”

The letter is endorsed by SALDEF along with American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee, Asian American Justice Center, Hindu American Foundation, Hmong National Development Inc., Japanese American Citizens League, Muslim Public Affairs Council, National Coalition for the Homeless, North American Religious Liberty Association, Organization of Chinese Americans, South Asian Americans Leading Together, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, The Sikh Coalition and United Sikhs.

Says the letter: “The denial of equal accommodation to Mr. Khera is fundamentally inconsistent with the nobility of your work and sends dismissive signals to Sikhs, Jews, Muslims, and other Americans who wear articles of faith in accordance with their religious beliefs. The repudiation of Mr. Khera’s donation on account of his religion is reminiscent of the Jim Crow era, when African-Americans were denied equal access to public accommodations because of their race.”

Jolly says in the letter as the holiday season approaches, “interfaith groups must celebrate religious diversity in the common cause of helping the less fortunate.

“To this end, we believe it would be appropriate for (the) Union Mission of Roanoke Rapids to restore its goodwill by issuing a public apology to Mr. Khera and amending its policy to allow visitors to wear articles of faith.”

Since his donation was refused on Nov. 18, Khera and his wife Gwendolyn have agreed to cook for a party for foster children and adopt two elderly couples for the holidays.

Copyright © 2009 Roanoke Daily Herald

Comments

    pks wrote on Jan 5, 2009 1:49 PM:

    " The face that people call the sikh turban a "towel" shows how they are willing to demean us and how much discrimanation is in their hearts. Removing the "towel" for surgery is a medical procedure, not an act of charity as mr. k was tyring to do... "

    Bhavjeet Singh S. wrote on Dec 9, 2008 4:43 PM:

    " One would think that a Christian group would be a bit less suspicious of a strange man bearing gifts at this time of the year, especially one who would appear to have come from the East, given his attire and accouterments. I recall that three such men were said to have shown up at a certain manger late one night ... "

    us citizen wrote on Dec 8, 2008 6:56 PM:

    " Did Mr. Khera want to donate money or get publicity from donating money? The Union Mission has rules and Mr. Khera refused to adhere to them. Plain and simple. "

    HS wrote on Dec 8, 2008 4:37 PM:

    " I applaud Mr. Khera for cooking for the party for the foster children and adopting the 2 couples for the holidays. Maybe this will motivate people to do more for our fellow citizens who are less fortunate and help them enjoy the holiday spirits. "

    Dave wrote on Dec 8, 2008 12:40 PM:

    " Why should the Union Mission bow down to Khera's beliefs? Why won't he understand someone else's? Jim Crow era? Give us a break. He simply refused to remove his headwear. No color discrimination here. Would he remove his towel if he had to have headogapf surgery? "

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