NEW YORK, NY: Sikhs, most of them representatives of the Sikh cultural Society, Richmond Hill, Were present at the swearing in of David Dinkins as the 106th Mayor of New York, at the City Hall on January 1,

The presence of the Sikhs at the function ‘was shown on major television networks including NBC, CBS. Almost all the Sikhs wore turbans of different shades contributing color to what Dinkins calls the gorgeous mosaic” of the city which has seen a substantial increase in the Sikh population.

An estimated 12,000 people, braved the chilly weather and overcast sky to attend the ceremony. The crowd was at least three times as large as those on previous occasions in the last two decades. It was an historic occasion, the first black: mayor of the city and as expected. Most of the people who attended the function were black.

Sikhs had attended the fund raising functions of the mayor in large numbers whereas, according. To a New York ethnic tabloid the Indian community had supported Rudolph Guillaini. The Sikhs were prominent at a fund raising dinner by the “Asian Americans for David Dinkins” in the honor of the Democratic mayor elect on October 18.

As David Dinkins addressed the fund raising dinner, he was flanked by a number of Asian community leaders who included Singh Mangat, the President of Sikh Cultural Society and Inderjit Singh Co Chairman of “Asian Americans for David Dinkins”.

Both of them were amongst the invited guests at the Inauguration and were present at the function.

Also present were Rabinder Singh Bhamra, Jatinder Singh Sabharwal, and Malkit Singh Bains.

Talking to the WSN, Jagjit Singh Mangat said “We hope that the new mayor will be more accessible to the Sikh community. We supported him all the way and we hope he will reciprocate.”

Inderjit Singh said “David Dinkins intends to be the mayor of all the people of New York and his administration will try to include all New Yorkers. As promised during the campaign, Dinkins administration will be sensitive to the needs and concerns of the Sikhs as well as other Asians.

He also thanked the Sikh community for their support and encouragement and congratulated the community for their activism as well as sensitivity to the political process. He particularly thanked the administration and sagat of the Sikh Cultural Society.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 5, 1990