On Tuesday, the Seattle City Council voted 6-1 to add caste discrimination to its anti-discrimination laws, making Seattle the first U.S. city to enact such a law and the first city globally outside South Asia.
Caste discrimination, based on birth or descent, has become a growing concern within South Asian diaspora communities in the U.S., but the movement has faced resistance from some Hindu Americans who believe the legislation unfairly targets their community.
The council’s decision followed a charged public hearing, where tensions ran high between supporters and opponents of the ordinance. The majority of attendees supported the legislation, while a vocal minority voiced their opposition. Proponents argue that caste discrimination transcends national and religious boundaries, while critics fear the law stigmatizes the Hindu community and lacks sufficient data to support its necessity.
The ordinance was proposed by Council Member Kshama Sawant, the only Indian American on the council, who stated that over 4,000 emails were received in support of the law. Sawant emphasized that the law addresses a real issue, as many people shared their personal experiences with caste discrimination in Seattle. She also stressed that the law does not single out any particular group, noting that caste discrimination affects people across various nationalities and religions.
Opponents, including Council Member Sara Nelson, who cast the lone dissenting vote, expressed concerns that the ordinance could lead to increased anti-Hindu sentiment and create challenges for South Asians in the workforce. Nelson called the ordinance “a reckless, harmful solution” and warned of potential legal battles for the city.
Despite these concerns, supporters celebrated the vote as a major victory for Dalit rights and anti-caste discrimination efforts. Activists noted the importance of the ordinance in protecting vulnerable communities and ensuring that individuals facing caste-based discrimination have legal recourse.
As the law takes effect, Seattle joins a small but growing number of institutions in the U.S. addressing caste discrimination. Caste protections have already been implemented at several universities, including Brandeis, Harvard, and the California State University system.
The passage of this ordinance highlights the growing conversation around caste discrimination in the U.S. and the challenges of addressing it within diverse and complex diaspora communities.
Author
Juan Miguel Jocom, or Juanita Banana as his friends call him, is an Editorial Board member at the Seattle Collegian, where he focuses on writing about the experience of immigrant students at Seattle Central College. A documentarian, he hopes to create videos that will showcase the chaos and glory of humans.
As a Seattle local, he’s an aspiring granola boy, who enjoys rock climbing and jumping off cliffs. His recent documentary, Welcome to the Neighborhood, was an official selected entry for the 2021 SCOOP film fest.
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