California Governor Newsom Vetoes Caste Discrimination Bill
In a move that has surprised many, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill on Saturday that aimed to explicitly ban caste discrimination. The bill, known as Senate Bill 403 or SB 403, had recently been passed by the state legislature. Newsom's decision was based on the rationale that existing laws already address ancestry discrimination, rendering the new bill "unnecessary."
If the bill had been signed into law, California would have been the pioneering U.S. state to specifically outlaw caste discrimination. This veto is a significant blow to activists who championed the legislation, especially since U.S. discrimination laws, while prohibiting ancestry discrimination, do not specifically address casteism.
The proposed legislation was designed to address the caste system prevalent in South Asian and Hindu immigrant communities by incorporating caste as a protected category in California's anti-discrimination laws.
Democratic state Senator Aisha Wahab, an Afghan American, introduced the bill in March. After revisions, the bill, which categorized caste under "ancestry" rather than as a distinct category, received overwhelming support in both the state Assembly and Senate.
Governor Newsom, in a letter to state lawmakers, stated, "Because discrimination based on caste is already prohibited under these existing categories, this bill is unnecessary."
Those advocating against caste discrimination argue that it is akin to other forms of discrimination, such as racism, and should be explicitly prohibited. However, critics of the bill believe that existing U.S. laws sufficiently address the issue and that the new legislation would unfairly stigmatize the broader Hindu and South Asian community.
The momentum to combat caste discrimination in North America had been growing. Seattle recently became the first U.S. city to ban caste discrimination, and Toronto's school board acknowledged the presence of caste discrimination in its schools. Additionally, Fresno, California, joined Seattle in prohibiting caste discrimination.
The topic holds significant relevance for Americans of Indian descent and Hindus. With the influx of Indians and South Asians, especially in regions like California and Silicon Valley, major U.S. tech companies have had to grapple with caste discrimination issues. Notably, several of these firms, including Alphabet, Microsoft, and IBM, are led by CEOs of Indian origin.
The caste system, one of the world's oldest social stratification systems, has been a source of privilege for upper castes and oppression for lower castes. Despite India's ban on caste discrimination over seven decades ago, biases persist, with the Dalit community, considered "untouchables," facing significant challenges. The discourse on the caste system, both in India and internationally, remains a contentious issue, deeply intertwined with religious beliefs.