On December 22, the Sikh Coalition, along with co-counsel, filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Motor Vehicles (CA-DMV). The suit challenges the CA-DMV’s unlawful cancellation of more than 20,000 non-domiciled commercial drivers’ licenses (CDLs) due to minor clerical discrepancies; it is a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of five CDL holders who have been deprived of their rights and livelihoods, as well as the Jakara Movement as an additional plaintiff. Learn more about the lawsuit on our blog.

Watch footage from a Punjabi language press conference we held on December 24, and read further coverage of the lawsuit in outlets like the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and the Associated Press. Additionally, check out a powerful feature piece on Sikh truckers on which the Sikh Coalition was glad to collaborate with the New York Times. And finally, you can continue to find our trucking resources available for free in English and Punjabi on our website at thesikh.co/truckers. 

The Sikh Coalition is honored to announce the Sikh Political Leadership Training Program that will be launched in January. Headed by Sikh Coalition Director of Political Development Manpreet Kaur, the program will be a comprehensive, non-partisan training program for Sikh individuals interested in running for elected office. Through the program, we will aim to develop a pipeline of the next generation of Sikh leadership in the United States, with an immediate focus on individuals pursuing public service within the next two election cycles. The Sikh Coalition is excited to continue pushing for Sikh civic engagement and political representation across the United States in the new year. 

The Sikh Coalition continues our advocacy work to ensure that Sikhs remain able to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces with their articles of faith despite hostility to beard accommodations. We remain in close contact with our co-counsel, current and former clients, and other partners on this issue as we await more updates from the Department of Defense.

In the meantime, earlier this month, we worked with Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) on a letter signed by several Senate Armed Services Committee Democrats raising questions about military beard policies to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Additionally, on December 10, we positioned our former client, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Sukhbir Singh Toor, to testify about his experiences before the Trump Administration’s Religious Liberty Commission.

On December 2, the Sikh Coalition unveiled our 2025 Year in Review! See the newsletter for just some of the incredible legal, advocacy, community development, education, and media engagement work we’ve done from coast to coast to strengthen and expand Sikh civil rights—all work that is powered by your dasvandh! 

Additionally, the Sikh Coalition offers a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to everyone who participated in #GivingTuesday. Thanks to the generosity of sangat, we are pleased to announce that we were able to exceed our $100,000 goal, which was matched dollar-for-dollar by an anonymous donor! We will continue to be fundraising for the remainder of the year so that we can start off strong in 2026; if you are willing and able to donate today, we would be humbled by your continued investment and partnership in our shared work.

  • On November 29, Community Development Manager Anmol Aulakh attended the Mahan Kirtan Darbar event hosted by Sant Sagar Gurdwara Sahib Ji in New York in remembrance of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadar Sahib Ji’s 350th Shaheedi Divas.
  • On December 4, Sikh Coalition State Policy Manager Gurvir Singh Sidhu attended the Religious Resistance to Authoritarianism Conference in New York City, hosted by the Interfaith Center of New York, Union Theological Seminary, The Riverside Church, the Beacon, and the Interfaith Alliance. 
  • On December 13, Managing Director of Policy and Communications Graham F. West and Community Development Director Aasees Kaur attended a community event, “Indian and South Asian Americans: Unite Against Racism,” in Norcross, Georgia. West spoke on the event’s panel discussion.
  • On December 14, Development Director Harleen Singh represented the Sikh Coalition at the Sikh Nonprofit Fair at Wheaton Gurdwara.
  • On December 14, Community Development Manager Anmol Aulakh visited Sant Sagar Gurdwara Sahib Ji in New York while State Policy Manager Gurvir Singh Sidhu attended the Shri Guru Ravidass Temple of New York; each provided briefings on potential changes to New York State trucking and non-domiciled CDL policies. 
  • On December 19, Managing Director of Education and Community Development Rucha Kaur, State Policy Manager Gurvir Singh Sidhu, and Community Development Manager Anmol Aulack attended a bill introduction of the Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act at Glen Rock Gurdwara in New Jersey.