Page 4 - aruba-today-20231009

A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 9 october 2023

California governor vetoes bill that would have banned caste

discrimination

By Deepa Bharath said she still views this tor.
Associated Press moment as a victory for In March, state Sen. Aisha
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gov. caste-oppressed people Wahab, the first Muslim and
Gavin Newsom vetoed a who have “organized and Afghan American elected
bill Saturday that would built amazing power and to the California Legisla-
have made California the awareness on this issue.” ture, introduced the bill.
first U.S. state to outlaw “We made history con- The California law would
caste-based discrimina- ducting the first advocacy have included caste as a
tion. days, caravans, and hun- sub-category under ethnic-
Caste is a division of people ger strike for caste equity,” ity — a protected category
related to birth or descent. she said. “We made the under the state’s anti-dis-
Those at the lowest strata world aware that caste crimination laws.
of the caste system, known exists in the U.S. and our Nirmal Singh, a Bakersfield
as Dalits, have been push- people need a remedy resident and member of
ing for legal protections from this violence. A testa- Californians for Caste Eq-
in California and beyond. California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks in Sacramento, Calif., ment to our organizing is in uity, said the introduction
Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas, File)
They say it is necessary to Newsom’s veto where he of this bill “represents a
protect them from bias in law specifies that these civil Californians have come acknowledges that caste is shifting tide in California to
housing, education and in rights protections shall be forward with stories of dis- currently covered. So while understand caste-based
the tech sector — where liberally construed.” crimination in the work- we wipe our tears and discrimination.” Singh also
they hold key roles. “Because discrimination place, housing and educa- grieve, know that we are represents Ravidassia com-
Earlier this year, Seattle be- based on caste is already tion. Opponents, including not defeated.” munity, many of whom are
came the first U.S. city to prohibited under these ex- some Hindu groups, called The Hindu American Foun- Dalits with roots in Punjab,
add caste to its anti-dis- isting categories, this bill is the proposed legislation dation and Coalition of India.
crimination laws. On Sept. unnecessary,” he said in “unconstitutional” and Hindus of North America “The fact that caste-op-
28, Fresno became the the statement. have said it would unfairly claimed Newsom’s veto as pressed people were given
second U.S. city and the A United Nations report in target Hindus and people a victory for their advoca- a platform to stand up for
first in California to prohibit 2016 said at least 250 mil- of Indian descent. The issue cy efforts. our basic human rights is a
discrimination based on lion people worldwide still caused deep divisions in “With the stroke of his pen, huge win in and of itself,”
caste by adding caste and face caste discrimination in the Indian American com- Governor Newsom has he said.
indigeneity to its municipal Asia, Africa, the Middle East munity. Hundreds on both averted a civil rights and Earlier this week, Republi-
code. and Pacific regions, as well sides came to Sacramen- constitutional disaster that can state Sens. Brian Jones
In his message Newsom as in various diaspora com- to to testify at committee would have put a target and Shannon Grove called
called the bill “unneces- munities. Caste systems are hearings in the state senate on hundreds of thousands on Newsom to veto the bill,
sary,” explaining that Cali- found among Buddhists, and assembly. of Californians simply be- which they said will “not
fornia “already prohibits Christians, Hindus, Jains, Thenmozhi Soundarara- cause of their ethnicity or only target and racially
discrimination based on Muslims and Sikhs. jan, executive director of their religious identity, as profile South Asian Cali-
sex, race, color, religion, Proponents of the bill Equality Labs, the Oakland- well as create a slippery fornians, but will put other
ancestry, national origin, launched a hunger strike based Dalit rights group slope of facially discrimina- California residents and
disability, gender identity, in early September pushing that has been leading the tory laws,” said Samir Kalra, businesses at risk and jeop-
sexual orientation, and oth- for the law’s passage. Dur- movement to end caste the Hindu American Foun- ardize our state’s innovate
er characteristics, and state ing their campaign, many discrimination nationwide, dation’s managing direc- edge.”q

Trump asks Iowans to help him ‘win big’ in 2024 caucuses to set the

tone for the general election

By Thomas Beaumont tone for the general elec- seeks to seize on new in-
Associated Press tion.” terest since the two GOP
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) Trump’s afternoon stops in presidential debates with a
— Donald Trump on Sat- Waterloo and Cedar Rap- built-out Iowa operation.
urday called for a show of ids were his third and fourth Trump drew 1,700 people
strength in Iowa, arguing in a little more than two in Waterloo for an event
before big audiences that weeks, part of a stepped- aimed at encouraging at-
dominating in the Republi- up campaign schedule tendees to pledge to sup-
can presidential caucuses as the opening contest for port him in the caucuses,
in January would signal to the 2024 Republican nomi- which are scheduled for
voters around the country nation approaches. Late- Jan. 15. Hundreds more
his strength in the Novem- summer polls of likely GOP people waited outside, a
ber election next year. caucus attendees showed sign of his advantage in the
“We have to win big,” Trump well ahead of his op- state and nationally.
Trump told about 2,500 in ponents. The former president
a downtown Cedar Rapids Trump, who has drawn big blamed President Joe
hotel ballroom on his sec- audiences to eastern Iowa Former President Donald Trump arrives at a commit to caucus Biden for Hamas’ surprise
rally, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Waterloo, Iowa. (AP Photo/
ond of stops, part of a fall events in recent weeks, is Charlie Neibergall) attack on Israel, alleging
push to lock in supporters. “I expected to return again Biden had demonstrated
think we’re in great shape in mid-October, as Florida to reignite attention with paign and as former South weakness that embold-
in the primary. But it sets a Gov. Ron DeSantis hopes a stepped-up Iowa cam- Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley ened U.S. adversaries.q