On Friday, September 27, 2019, Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Dhaliwal was shot and killed at a traffic stop in northwest Houston, Texas. Deputy Dhaliwal had served in the Harris County Sheriff’s Office since 2009; in 2015, he became the first officer in the department--and the state of Texas--to serve with his Sikh articles of faith.
In the days and weeks since, Sikhs and others across the nation have joined the Houston sangat in honoring Deputy Dhaliwal and supporting his family and friends through this trying time. The bipartisan delegation of members of Congress from Houston, led by Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, introduced
H. Res. 616 to honor Deputy Dhaliwal and his legacy of
seva, or selfless service to the community.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
- Click here to immediately send a message to your member of Congress urging them to sign on to this resolution.
- When you’re done, forward this email or send the link to family and friends so that they can contact their members of Congress too.
- Post on your personal social media platforms encouraging others in your community to take action with you.
The Sikh Coalition assisted Congresswoman Fletcher with composing this resolution, and we continue working to honor Deputy Dhaliwal’s legacy. Last week, we also
worked with 98 current and former Sikh American law enforcement officials and U.S. military servicemembers to deliver letters calling on their respective institutions to streamline religious accommodations in the spirit of Deputy Dhaliwal’s service. Finally, we have also
assisted sangats in their memorial efforts of Deputy Dhaliwal, and continue to advise newsrooms across the country on how to cover his story--and the broader tenets of Sikhi--responsibly and respectfully.
A bipartisan congressional resolution will honor Deputy Dhaliwal at one of the highest levels in our federal government and send another message to Americans that his legacy will not soon be forgotten.
Click here to make sure that Congress hears Sikh voices from across the nation loud and clear, and don’t forget to encourage your family and friends to do so as well. Together, we can ensure that all of our members of Congress recognize and honor Deputy Dhaliwal’s legacy.
As always, the Sikh Coalition urges you to practice your faith fearlessly.
