California Caste Discrimination Ban : California Legislature Passes Anti-Caste Bill

California Legislature: California is first US state to pass ban on caste discrimination

California Legislature Makes Historic Move to Prohibit Caste Discrimination

In a groundbreaking move, California’s legislature has become the first in the United States to pass a bill aimed at outlawing caste discrimination. This significant development is seen as a protective measure for individuals of South Asian descent who have reported experiencing unfair treatment.

The fate of this bill now rests in the hands of the governor, who must decide whether to sign it into law. Seattle made history earlier this year by becoming the first U.S. city to ban caste discrimination in February.

The ancient caste system in India, which has endured for over 3,000 years, rigidly categorizes Hindu society into hierarchical groups.

This recent measure, passing by a vote of 31-5, was championed by Democratic state senator Aisha Wahab. She emphasized that it would include caste as a protected category under the state’s anti-discrimination laws, alongside gender, race, religion, and disability.

Ms. Wahab, the first Muslim and Afghan-American woman elected to the state legislature, remarked, “We shined a light on a long-hidden form of discrimination thousands of years old, invisible shackles on the wrist of millions of people.”

However, five Republican state senators opposed the legislation, contending that discrimination was already prohibited by existing state laws.

Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, will review the bill upon its arrival on his desk, as stated by his office.

While some Hindu groups argue that the caste system is not a significant issue in North America, Dalit activists, formerly known as untouchables, dismiss these claims. They assert that they have encountered discrimination from individuals of privileged castes.

In 2020, tech giant Cisco faced a lawsuit filed by the state, following allegations that two high-caste Indian managers had discriminated against a Dalit engineer, subjecting him to lower pay.