In first for a US city, Seattle bans caste discrimination

Over 1,67,000 people from South Asia live in Washington state, largely concentrated in the Greater Seattle area.

It’s official: our movement has WON a historic, first-in-the-nation ban on caste discrimination in Seattle! Now we need to build a movement to spread this victory around the country ✊ pic.twitter.com/1mBJ1W3v6j

— Kshama Sawant (@cmkshama) February 22, 2023

In an official statement released by the Council, Sawant said: “Caste discrimination does not only take place in other countries. It is faced by South Asian American and other immigrant working people in their workplaces, including in the tech sector, in Seattle and in cities around the country. That’s why my office is proud to bring forward first-in-the-nation legislation for our city to ban caste-based discrimination, in solidarity with our South Asian and other immigrant community members, and all working people.’’

The legislation will also ban discrimination based on caste in places of public accommodation, such as hotels, public transportation, public restrooms or retail establishments. Rental housing leases, property sales and mortgage loans are covered by the law.

“Caste discrimination is increasingly a grave contributor to workplace discrimination and bias — data from Equality Labs show that one in four caste-oppressed people faced physical and verbal assault, one in three faced education discrimination, and two in three faced workplace discrimination,” she said.

I’m proud to see Seattle leading the country by taking steps to end this discrimination and ensure that all people are able to live freely and thrive.

— Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) February 21, 2023

The Indian American Coalition, a coalition of Indian-American rights organisations, praised the Seattle City Council “for its leadership in passing the historic legislation to ban caste-based discrimination in the city”.

HAF stands firmly against caste discrimination. But it’s a sad day in Seattle as the City Council approves measure that will single out our community for additional legal scrutiny in the name of preventing discrimination. HAF statement https://t.co/sykq5qBYLQ

— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) February 22, 2023

While the legislation has been welcomed by Dalit groups across the US, it has been opposed by some organisations such as the Hindu American Foundation, which has said the law singles out Hindu Americans for additional legal scrutiny.

Just before the Council voted on the legislation on Tuesday, the Coalition of Hindus of North America tweeted: “More than 100 South Asian organizations, businesses – including Dalit Bahujan groups, temples, cultural associations, and allies – urge @SeattleCouncil to vote NO on @cmkshama’s proposed caste ordinance.”

“…we condemn all forms of discrimination, including caste-based discrimination… However, we are shocked and saddened to see such the current proposal, which is based on falsehoods and unproven allegations by hate groups such as Equality Labs. This ordinance peddles bigotry and singles out the South Asian community by using racist, colonial tropes of ‘caste’…,” it said in a statement.

The lone dissenter in the Seattle City Council, member Sara Nelson, echoed some of these arguments.

Thenmozhi Soundararajan, a executive director of Equality Labs, said: “Love has won over hate as Seattle has become the first in the nation to ban caste discrimination. We have braved rape threats, death threats, disinformation, and bigotry. First Seattle, now the nation!”