Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Voices That Must Be Heard" Articles Description An account of the resource The Independent Press Association (IPA) translates articles from the ethnic press (when necessary) and distributes them via web and fax newsletter to mainstream and ethnic press, government offices, nonprofits, and interested individuals. Voices That Must be Heard was designed by the Independent Press Association staff in New York City in response to the horrifying events of September 11. After Sept. 11th, Voices focused on the South Asian, Arab and Middle Eastern communities in New York. Since February 2002, the project has expanded, selecting articles from the broad range of ethnic and community newspapers throughout the city. Here, the Archive has preserved the Voices collection from its inception until November 2002. VTMBH Article VTMBH Article: Edition 27 VTMBH Article: Article Order 3 VTMBH Article: Title Sikh driver alleges harassment by police VTMBH Article: Author Sujeet Rajan VTMBH Article: Publication Indian Express VTMBH Article: Original Language English VTMBH Article: Translator VTMBH Article: Section briefs VTMBH Article: Blurb VTMBH Article: Keywords VTMBH Article: Body A New York Sikh taxi driver filed a claim with the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) alleging that his arrest by a police officer was the result of an argument initiated by the latter. In his allegation, the driver says that the officer knocked his turban to the ground because he refused to pick up a drunken passenger, reported The Richmond Hill Times. According to the report, Jatinder Singh Sekhon, 52, said that the trouble began around 4 p.m. on June 20 when two police officers, who were holding on to an inebriated man, hailed his cab in midtown Manhattan. Sekhon said Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) rules permit drivers to have the final say transporting drunken passengers, and accordingly, he refused to comply with the wishes of the officers and did not permit the drunken man into his car. The passenger was overly drunk, he wrote in a letter to the CCRB. He could not walk, stand, or even tell us his address. Both officers were holding him. One of the officers, Terence Kane, then insisted Sekhon take the man as a passenger, according to the letter, reports the Times. I always carry my NYC Taxi Law book, so I refused again, telling Officer Kane that I could show him in the law book that I have the right to refuse a drunk passenger, Sekhon wrote. He (police officer) threatened to arrest me. Sekhon, talking to the Indian Express, says he dialed 911 from his cell phone and told the operator Kanes name and badge number and asked for help. Meanwhile, another taxi stopped and the officer put the drunken man in that vehicle, according to the letter. Before the second cab took off, Sekhon said he approached the driver and asked him to write on his trip sheet that the passenger was under influence of alcohol. Officer Kane then pushed me back, handcuffed me, and threw my turban down and unraveled it, Sekhon wrote in his letter to the CCRB. Late, Sekhon was charged with obstruction of government administration, resisting arrest, assault, disorderly conduct and harassment, all misdemeanors, according to a complaint filed in Manhattan Criminal Court. He was held for 27 hours in a Manhattan stationhouse jail. However, he was released on his own recognizance and was scheduled to return to court on July 18, criminal court paper said. In his version, Kane says he observed Sekhons cab stopped in a driving lane and the driver would not move the vehicle despite repeated orders over a 10 minute period to do so. At one point, Sekhon pushed the officer, the complaint said, reports the Times. Kane tried to arrest Sekhon but was punched with a closed fist and scratched on the arms, according to the complaint. The complaint makes no mention of a drunken passenger. Police sources did not comment on the matter and said the incident was being investigated. Sekhon, in his defense, said: Nothing is my fault. I am a cab driver. I refuse to pick up a drunk passenger. I didnt fight with them. They are two officers; I am one man, 52 years old. Despite his denial, the TLC suspended his hack license a week after the incident, the report said. Paul Wein, executive director of public affairs for the TLC, said Sekhon was suspended on the basis of the criminal court complaint. He was suspended for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, he said. He was not suspended for refusing a drunk passenger because according to TLC law, you are allowed to refuse a drunk passenger. Sekhon, a member of the Sikh Cultural Society in Richmond Hill since he emigrated to the United States in 1981, says that maybe the officer picked on him because of his appearance. Maybe its discrimination because of my turban, he said. A father of four, Sekhon received a certificate from TLC Commissioner Matthew Dause for volunteering his time and vehicle to transport rescue workers, volunteers, family member of victims and blood donors following the September 11th terrorist attacks. He said he has never been arrested before and has never, in more than 18 years on the job, received a violation for operating his taxi. Now he said, he was forced to sit at home without any money coming in, waiting for his next court date and wondering why a police officer decided to pull him over, says the report. VTMBH Article: Line Breaks 1 VTMBH Article: Date 2002-07-19 VTMBH Article: Thumb VTMBH Article: Article File VTMBH Article: Hit Count 114 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sikh driver alleges harassment by police 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. unknown Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. article Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-07-19