On Friday, June 5, the New York State legislative session came to a close without advancing S 6531 or A 6920, bills that would have added “caste” as a standalone protected category to New York State non-discrimination laws. The Hindu, South Asian, and Indian American communities across New York wholeheartedly welcome this outcome as a vital victory for civil rights and constitutional fairness.
“We’re relieved that the New York Legislature recognized the profound constitutional flaws and civil rights risks inherent in these bills,” said Samir Kalra, Esq., HAF Managing Director. “By choosing not to advance these bills, New York policymakers protected the constitutional promise of equal protection and turned away a policy that would have effectively institutionalized ethnic profiling against a minority community.”
This outcome reflects five years of persistent educational, legal, and grassroots advocacy led by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) in states across the country. HAF worked alongside a coalition of community organizations, legal experts, and concerned New Yorkers. HAF also engaged extensively with policymakers and legislative staff, as well as committee leadership to raise awareness of these bills’ constitutional, legal, and practical implications.
“HAF remains committed to opposing discrimination in all its forms while ensuring that civil rights laws protect everyone equally,” said Suhag Shukla, Esq., HAF’s New York based Executive Director. “We are grateful to the legislators and committee members who listened to our community and recognized the serious legal and constitutional risks of this legislation. We especially want to thank Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar for her tireless direct outreach to her fellow legislators and committee members on behalf of our community.”
New York marks the sixth state that has introduced legislation to add caste as a standalone category, but with HAF’s education and outreach, none of these bills have passed. HAF will continue to work alongside policymakers, civil rights advocates, and community leaders to advance protections that uphold the constitutional rights, religious freedom, and equal dignity for Hindu Americans.
