#Breaking: After hours of testimony from hundreds of #HinduAmericans at a public hearing last night, @SCCgov Human Rights Commission decided to defer a vote on Equality Labs' proposal that "Caste" be added to county non-discrimination policy. 1/ diyatvusa.com/2021/04/29/exc…
The hearing began with testimony from caste 'experts'--a panel that seemed to be selected by Equality Labs, with no input accepted from Hindu advocacy groups. Panel included @IUMaurerLaw Professor Kevin Brown, well known for overt anti-Hindu speech. 2/ vice.com/en/article/3az… 
Equality Labs was then given 20 mins to build upon their handpicked panel's testimony. Only then was @HinduAmerican allowed to present our argument that adding 'caste' to official policy uniquely targets only South Asians & Hindus for ethno-religious monitoring & policing 3/
We argued that the solution to addressing caste-based discrimination is not in the creation of caste as a specific category, but rather enforcing EXISTING law, educating people of their rights, ensuring companies are compliant with their legal obligations. 4/
State and federal law & @sccgov policy already prohibit discrimination based on national origin, ethnicity and ancestry. Courts have held all 3 to include birthplace, ancestry (lineage), cultural background, etc. -- all characteristics associated with 'caste'. 5/
And despite what some 'experts' said, caste is NOT race - that itself is a racist, colonial theory. It's not color. It's not religion. And it's definitely not a state of mind. 6/
The @HinduAmerican testimony centered voices of Hindu Dalits & Bahujans. They described how Equality Labs & its anti-Hindu narratives foster divisions in their own community & hinder their ability to work together, freely talk & celebrate together as proud, practicing Hindus. 7/
@HinduAmerican argued that caste is a stereotype uniquely associated with Indians and Hindus. A caste category would uniquely target South Asians, Indians, and Hindus for ethno-religious profiling, monitoring, and policing. This is a denial of equal protection and due process!
And since caste is not race nor color nor religion, how would caste be determined? A caste database of Indian names and add a category for caste? Force individuals to wear an badge or carry a card that identifies caste? If you don't know your caste, impose one upon them?
Following our testimony, 100's of Indian Americans of all religions described how much they opposed this move by @sccgov and how much they feared that the discussion was dividing their community and stoking fears.
The solution to discrimination is not more discrimination.
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The solution to discrimination is not more discrimination.
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