The California State Senate on Thursday handed a laws that might ban caste-based discrimination within the State. The invoice was handed by 34-1 vote. The invoice – SB 403, would make California the primary US state so as to add caste as a protected class in its anti-discrimination legal guidelines, as reported by the information company PTI. Promoters of the invoice, being led by non-profit Equality Lab, mentioned {that a} comparable invoice is being launched within the State Home of Representatives, earlier than it may be despatched to the Governor to be signed right into a regulation.
Launched by California Senator Aisha Wahab, SB 403 provides caste as a protected class to an current regulation, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, which offers that each one individuals within the state of California are entitled to the complete and equal lodging, benefits, amenities, privileges, or companies in all enterprise institutions.
SB 403 offers specific protections to those that have been systemically harmed attributable to caste bias and prejudice. It additionally offers agency authorized penalties for these in search of to keep away from accountability or ramifications for allowing or collaborating in caste discrimination and caste-based violence.
This landmark invoice comes simply weeks after the California Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously handed SB403 in April. It additionally follows the Seattle Metropolis Council’s historic laws banning caste discrimination earlier this yr, in addition to resolutions to designate caste as a protected class handed by the California Democratic Get together, the California State College system, the Alphabet Staff Union, tech giants like Apple and Cisco, and others.
Seattle Councilmember Kshama Sawant, who was instrumental in Seattle being the primary metropolis to move anti-caste discrimination regulation, welcomed the passage of SB 403 by the California State Senate.
“Following our historic victory in Seattle in February, the California Senate has voted in favour of banning caste discrimination,” Sawant mentioned, as quoted by PTI. “The invoice now goes to the Meeting. Anti-caste activists, working individuals, union members, and my socialist Council workplace constructed a combating motion to win in Seattle, creating nationwide and even worldwide momentum. Solidarity to all combating oppression below capitalism!” she mentioned.
“On behalf of all Dalit Californians and caste-oppressed individuals all over the world, we’re ecstatic that the California Senate has handed SB403 off the Senate flooring. It is a win rooted in years of Dalit feminist organising, and we’re simply getting began in making the state protected for our total caste-oppressed group,” mentioned Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Equality Labs government director and creator of The Trauma of Caste, as quoted by PTI.
“We all know that we have now an extended journey forward of us with this invoice, however we have now made historical past with this vote and are proud to stay up for working with the California Meeting on this historic invoice! Equality Labs thanks the entire companions in Californians for Caste Fairness who labored tirelessly to get us this far,” she mentioned.