US to ban Caste Discrimination

February 23, 2023
Current Context: Seattle became the first US city to ban caste discrimination on Tuesday, February 22, 2023. The resolution was moved by Councilwoman Kshama Sawant, an upper-caste Hindu, who said that caste bias is a form of oppression that affects millions of people in South Asia and around the world. 
US to ban Caste Discrimination
  • Seattle's resolution was sponsored by Councilmember Kshama Sawant, an Indian-American politician and economist. She said that caste discrimination is a form of oppression that affects millions of people in South Asia and around the world². She also said that \"love has won over hate\" after the resolution was passed.
  • The resolution adds caste as a protected category under Seattle's non-discrimination policy. This means that businesses cannot discriminate based on caste with respect to hiring, promotion, wages or workplace conditions.
  • The resolution also urges Washington state and federal governments to enact similar legislation.
  • Seattle's ordinance amends the city's municipal code to include caste as a protected class. This means that anyone who experiences caste discrimination can file a complaint with the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR), which enforces anti-discrimination laws in the city. 
  • The SOCR can investigate complaints, mediate disputes, issue fines or take legal action against violators.

Question:

Q1. Which US city became the first to ban caste discrimination? 
a. New York 
b. Seattle 
c. Los Angeles
d. Chicago

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