RELEASE: Gottheimer Announces New Bipartisan Legislation to Fight Anti-Sikh Discrimination

Above: At the Glen Rock Gurudwara, Gottheimer sounds the alarm on anti-Sikh discrimination.

GLEN ROCK, NJ - On December 19, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined with leaders in the Sikh community to sound the alarm on rising anti-sikh discrimination and hate, and to announce the new bipartisan Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act.

Sikhs are the third most-targeted religious group in the country, seeing 153 attacks last year alone. New Jersey is home to one of the nation's largest Sikh populations, with about 100,000 Sikh residents in the Garden State.

The bipartisan Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act will:

• Establish a Task Force on Anti-Sikh Discrimination at the U.S. Department of Justice that will be responsible for:

• Drafting a definition of anti-Sikh hate;

• Developing an educational program on anti-Sikh hate and discrimination to be disseminated to K-12 Schools, law enforcement, and institutions of higher education;

• Drafting an annual report to Congress that provides an overview of hate crimes against    Sikhs; and,

• Meeting with the Sikh community and Sikh organizations.

Find the bill text here.

"We know that there is no place for hate or intolerance here in the greatest country in the world. That's why we cannot remain silent as our Sikh brothers and sisters are attacked day in and day out," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the bipartisan American Sikh Congressional Caucus. "If we allow hatred, bigotry, and intolerance to go unchecked, then we risk abandoning the very principles upon which our country was founded. So, today, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting religious freedom and tolerance, and to working toward a world where all people are free to practice their faith without fear or discrimination."

Gottheimer was joined today at the Glen Rock Gurudwara by the Sikh Coalition, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), New Jersey Sikh Gurdwara Council, and the New Jersey Sikh Youth Alliance.

"On behalf of the Sikh Coalition, we are grateful to Congressman Gottheimer and his team for championing the safety of Sikhs, gurdwarae, and sangats. We know that nationwide, Sikhs remain disproportionately more likely to experience hate than the average American; sadly, hateful rhetoric and hate crimes against too many minority communities are on the rise. By creating a task force focused on naming, documenting, and preventing hate crimes and other forms of discrimination against Sikhs, this bill takes an important step toward accountability, prevention, and ensuring that Sikh communities can live and worship safely and without fear," said Rucha Kaur, Managing Director of Education & Community Development at the Sikh Coalition.

"For too long, the Sikh community has lived in the shadow of prejudice and systemic exclusion because the law lacked a clear framework to define the specific hate we face. By establishing a formal federal definition, this bill provides law enforcement and educators with the vital tools to identify, track, and ultimately prevent anti-Sikh hate and discrimination. We are proud to stand with Congressman Gottheimer for transforming a shared vision into a legislative reality for Sikhs across the nation," said Bhupindar Singh, Outreach Lead, New Jersey Sikh Youth Alliance Inc.

"The looming threat of transnational repression and targeting of our immigrant communities have left Sikh Americans vulnerable," said Jaslin Kaur, Senior Outreach Manager at SALDEF. "Despite these challenges, we maintain the spirit of sarbat da bhala in advocating for the safety and dignity of all Americans. SALDEF applauds Representative Gottheimer for taking this historic step to addressing decades of underreported instances of anti-Sikh hate."

"It's important for Congress to affirm its commitment to confronting hate, discrimination, and violence directed at religious minorities," said Yadvinder Singh, President of the NJ Sikh Guwarada Council. "Acts of anti-Sikh hate not only undermine the safety and dignity of the Sikh community, but also threaten the foundational American principle of equality."

Watch a video of today's announcement here.

Below: Gottheimer joins with Sikh organizations and community leaders to sound the alarm on rising hatred toward the Sikh community.

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