US Sikhs Work with Congress on Letter to French President

According to a community advisory first released by The Sikh Coalition, United States Congressman Michael Honda is sending a letter to the French government from the United States expressing concerns about the possible ban on religious articles of faith in French public schools.

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives now have until 12:00 p.m. eastern standard time on Monday, February 9th 2004, to sign on to the letter. To date, 25 members of the House have signed the letter. To view the letter, please click here.

Volunteers from the Sikh Coalition have been making rounds to offices of the members of the Congress in Washington DC, educating them about the proposed ban in France and its ramifications. They have identified members of the House of Representatives who are willing to sign the letter if they hear about it from their constituents. The list of those members, along with their phone numbers, is below.

William Delahunt (D -- Mass) (202-225-3111)

Anna Eshoo (D -- CA) 202-225-8104
Xavier Becerra (D -- CA) 202-225-6235
Grace Napolitano, D-CA, (202) 225-5256
Diane Watson D-CA, (202) 225-7084
Darrell Issa R-CA, (202) 225-3906
Christopher Cox R-CA, (202) 225-5611
Dana Rohrabacher R-CA, (202) 225-2415
Elton Gallegly R-CA, (202) 225-5811
Edward Royce R-CA, (202) 225-4111
Tom Lantos - CA, (202) 225-3531
Howard Berman D-CA, (202) 225-4695
Randy "Duke" Cunningham R-CA, (202) 225-5452
Duncan Hunter R-CA, (202) 225-5672
Dana Rohrabacher R-CA, (202) 225-2415
Loretta Sanchez D-CA, (202) 225-2965
Pete Stark, CA, (202) 225-5065
Joe Baca - D-CA, (202) 225-6161

Mike Ferguson (R - NJ) 202-225-5361
Christopher Smith R-NJ, (202) 225-3765
Scott Garrett ( R -- NJ) 202-225-4465
Frank Pallone, D-NJ, (202) 225-4671
Bill Pascarell, D-NJ, (202) 225-5751
Frank LoBiondo, R-NJ, (202) 225-6572
Steve Rothman, D-NJ, (202) 225-5061

Harold Ford ( D -- TN) 202-225-3265

Richard Gepardt ( D -- MS)202-225-2671

Joseph Hoeffel D-PA (202) 225-611
Joseph Pitts D-PA, (202) 225-2411

Peter T. King R-NY, (202) 225-7896
Elliot Engel D-NY, (202) 225-2464
John McHugh - NY, (202) 225-4611
Gary Ackerman D-NY, (202) 225-2601
Amory Hougton - R-NY, (202) 225-3161
Thomas Reynolds, NY, (202) 225-5265

Rob Simmons, R-CT,(202)-225- 2076
Chris Shays, R-CT, (202) 225-5541

Robert Wexler D-FL, (202) 225-3001
IIleana Ros-Lehtitnen R-FL, (202) 225-3931
Tom Feeney (R -- Florida) 202-225-2706

Thaddeus McCotter D-MI, (202) 225-8171

Steve Chabot D-OH, (202) 225-2216
Sherrod Brown D-OH, (202) 225-3401

Ron Paul R-TX, (202) 225-2831
Charles Gonzalez, D-TX, , (202) 225-3236
John Carter, TX, (202) 225-3864

Adam Smith D-WA, (202) 225-8901
Jim McDermot, D-WA, (202) 225-3106

Henry Hyde R-IL, (202) 225-4561
Jerry Weller R-IL, (202) 225-3635

Earl Blumenaur D-OR, (202) 225-4811

Cas Ballenger R-NC, (202) 225-2576

Nick Smith R-MI, (202) 225-6276

Doug Bereuter R-NE, (202) 225-4806

Eni Faleomavaega D-AS, (202) 225-8577

Thomas Tancredo R-CO, (202) 225-7882

Jo Ann Davis R-VA, (202) 225-4261

Mark Green R-WI, (202) 225-5665

Mike Pence R-IN, (202) 225-3021

Patrick Kennedy - D-RI, (202) 225-4911

Joe Kolbe R-AZ, (202) 225-2542

Frank Wolk, R-VA, (202) 225-5136

Jack Kingston, R-GA, (202) 225-5831

Wayne Gilchrest, R-MD, (202) 225-5311

The community advisory released by The Sikh Coalition recommends the following actions:

Please click: Find my Congressman and type in your zip code. The name of your representative and his or her telephone number will appear.

Please note that this letter is for members of the House of Representatives. It is not necessary for you to call your Senators.

Please also note because of today's anthrax scare in Congress, your member of Congress will have received this letter from Congressman Honda's office, via e-mail rather by regular Congressional mail.

When you call, please do the following:

1. Politely introduce yourself

2. Say you are a constituent

3. Say:
a. There is letter presently circulating out of Congressman Honda's office for members of congress to sign;
b. The letter is about the possible ban on religious articles of faith in French public schools
c. You would like your representative to sign the letter
d. The letter should have reached their office via e-mail because of the anthrax scare over the past days

4. Ask to speak to the legislative assistant or foreign affairs staff person who would handle this matter.

5. If you are able to speak to a legislative assistant or other staffer, reiterate that you want your representative to sign the letter circulating out of Congressman Honda's office. Explain why they should sign the letter. You may want to make the following points
a. This letter is written to request the French government not to enact a ban on religious articles of faith in French public schools
b. If the ban is enacted, it will result in Sikhs not being allowed to wear turbans in school, as required by the Sikh faith.
c. In addition, Christians would not be allowed to wear crosses, Jews would not be allowed to wear yarmulkes, Muslims not being allowed to wear hijabs in public schools
d. This is a fundamental human rights issue. Children of faith should not have to choose between their faith and getting an education.
e. There is legitimate fear that a ban would spread to other countries in Europe. Two German states and ministers in the Belgian government have expressed interest in enacting a similar ban.
f. The French assembly to presently considering the proposed ban. Now is the time for those who are concerned to act. We request that the Congressman or Congresswoman sign the letter.

For information and links to a few of the many Sikh organizations attempting to help fight the French ban please visit www.sikhcoalition.org/frenchban.asp.

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