Dear Supporter Ji,
For those who may not know me, my name is Harjot Singh, and I joined the Sikh Coalition this year as the new Federal Policy Manager. I experienced the organization’s impact firsthand when its legal team had supported my uncle after he survived a life-threatening hate crime. Since joining, I’ve learned that across the country, too many hate crimes like his still go undocumented or unprosecuted. Against these challenges, the Sikh Coalition’s work—from courtrooms to Congress—remains a steadfast force for change. I am honored to now contribute to this mission, thanks to the generous support of individuals like you.
A memorable moment in my first few months at the Sikh Coalition was helping organize our Capitol Hill briefing marking the 30th anniversary of Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra’s martyrdom. His work exposing perpetrators of state violence remains strikingly relevant: some officials now accused of orchestrating transnational repression plots against the Sikh diaspora were once police officers implicated in human rights abuses in Punjab—abuses Bhai Khalra had tirelessly worked to expose. Presenting his legacy in a way that interweaved history, policy, and the present was profoundly meaningful. Bhai Khalra’s fight against impunity continues to drive our fight against repression targeting our diaspora today.
Over the past year, I’ve had the chance to brief State Department officials on the multifaceted threats posed by transnational repression, met with congressional offices to discuss legislation from hate crimes to immigration-related threats, and organized correspondence for lawmakers across a wide range of hearings. Through these experiences, and by working at the intersection of policy initiatives and community perspectives, I’ve come to greatly appreciate the unique role the Sikh Coalition plays. Few organizations bring an informed Sikh perspective to policy debates on hate crime prevention, religious freedom and transnational repression in D.C. with clarity and consistency that speaks to policymakers on both sides of the aisle.
As the year comes to a close, we remain committed to raising the Sikh voice and advancing the community’s priorities with elected officials nationwide and at every level of the federal government. Political tides may shift, but the issues most pressing to our community remain the same. From hate crimes to transnational repression and immigration to inclusive education, we will keep advocating on these fronts while also collaborating with all partners who share our values and stand for the civil rights of Sikhs and other faith communities. With the support of members like you, this work will carry forward strong into 2026, no matter which way the political winds blow.
Thank you for trusting the Sikh Coalition to serve as a strong voice for the panth in our nation’s capital. We look forward to continuing to work alongside and for you in the year to come and beyond.
Chardi Kala,
Harjot Singh
Federal Policy Manager
The Sikh Coalition