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Councilmember Kshama Sawant (District 3, Central Seattle), chair of the Seattle City Council’s Sustainability and Renters’ Rights Committee, proposes City legislation aimed at fighting caste discrimination. Caste is a system of rigid social stratification characterized by hereditary status, endogamy (completely closed categories), and social barriers based on birth and descent. Caste discrimination occurs in the form of social segregation, economic deprivation, physical and psychological abuse, and violence. Caste discrimination is also manifested in employment, education, and housing.

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. Sawant and other speakers will present the draft ordinance, which will be the first of its kind in the nation if passed by the City Council. Speakers will explain the caste discrimination that exists locally and nationally, and how the proposed ordinance will help fight caste discrimination.

Speakers and attendees include:

Councilmember Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Council

Samir Khobragade, Tech worker & South Asian American community member

Raghav Kaushik, Tech worker & South Asian American community member

Hassan Khan, Human rights activist

Javed Sikandar, Technology leader

Lama Rangdrol, Seattle-based African American teacher of Buddhism

Alvin Muragori, Socialist & community organizer