(Courtesy: Sacramento Bee, by Garth Stapley)

SACRAMENTO, CA: Sikh students in Livingston and everywhere else in California could be wearing religious knives to school in January without fear of being expelled, thanks to legislation that received state Assembly approval last week,

A bill allowing kirpans daggers with small, curved blades worn by baptized Sikhs passed 4424 in the Assembly, The Senate, which must consider Assembly changes to the bill, could get it back as early as today, and the bill could be on the governor’s desk by Friday,

The Assembly victory was a vote for religious tolerance,” said Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer, DHayward who wrote the bill’ at the request of Sikh leaders in his district. They had approached Lockyer after a series of setbacks in a federal lawsuit brought by three Livingston children fighting a ban on kirpans in the Livingston Union School District.

Lawyers on both sides of the precedent settling federal cases watched by civil rights is advocates an educators across the continent have agreed that 4 Sikh victory at the state Capitol would clear the way for the wearing of kirpans in classrooms. Livingston school officials have pointed to state law prohibiting weapons on campuses, as the basis for their ban, and Lockyer’s bill would exempt kinpans from that law.

Attorneys will continue the legal battle on constitutional grounds, and expect a decision soon from the 9th U.S, Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

“Sikh leader Ram Singh, who has championed the Livingston pupils case as well as Lockyer’s bill, ‘Said he will reserve rejoicing until Gov. Wilson gives his O.K.

“It’s a good step, but it’s just one Step,” Singh said. “My only wish.

is that the kids are able to go back to school.”

That may not happen until Jan. 1, when Lockyer’s bill would take effect. He would have needed a two thirds majority 54 votes in the Assembly for an urgency Statute allowing the law to take

effect immediately upon the governor’s signature. ‘The Livingston children have not attended school since January.

Each is receiving two hours of home instruction per week, provided by the school district.

Karin Cayes, press secretary for Lockyer, Said she anticipates that Wilson will sign the bill. His office normally indicates the governor’s Opposition to bills early in the process, and that has not happened, Caves said, noting that the bill cleared the Senate floor by unanimous vote the first time around.

“I would pray to God that my

uldren would go to school

‘with Sikh girls and boys who have

made a commitment to what this

(Kirpan) symbolizers,” said As

assemblyman Bernie Richter,

RChico, who carried the bill for

Lockyer through the Assembly.

He said kirpans symbolize “‘peace,

forbearance and patience.”

Assemblyman Ross Johnson, Fullerton, unsuccessfully argued that the issue is not about religious freedom,

“It’s immaterial whether Sikhs have used these daggers in an aggressive way,” Johnson said, “My children and your children could hot carry a similar knife on school grounds because we want them to be free of all weapons.” Assemblywoman Diane Mantnez, DRosemead, noted that Sikh students would be subjected to strict penalties if they ever brandished a Kirpan. Lockyer’s bill was defeated in the Assembly only last week, but resurfaced after he amended it to give school districts the option of Adopting “reasonable conditions” for weaning kirpans. Those could include requiring that they be dulled or their blades sewn to sheaths to make removal difficult.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 2, 1994