Rosa Parks Award for Gurinder Singh Khalsa Who Forced US Authorities to Change Policy on Turban
Posted: 19 Jan 2019 07:44 PM PSTWASHINGTON, USA—Indianapolis based quadragenarian Sikh Gurinder Singh Khalsa has been conferred the Rosa Parks Trailblazer Award on January 18 for his courage and compassion which forced the US authorities to change its policy towards turban.
It is noteworthy here that after getting denied access to plane for wearing turban in 2007 while travelling from Buffalo to Sacramento, Gurinder Singh Khalsa had mobilized more than 67,000 people nationwide for petitions and took the issue all the way to the US Congress, which forced Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) to change its policy towards the turban of the Sikh community. As a result, Sikhs can now wear their turban through airport security in the US.

Dedicating the award to the Sikh community, Gurinder Singh Khalsa said that the change does not come without the support of a community so this award was not for him. “I dedicate this award to more than 67,000 individuals from all walks of life across America, and to one of the largest Sikh advocacy groups, Sikh Coalition. Without their countless efforts, change in the TSA turban policy would not exist,” he said while addressing the award ceremony, which was attended by top State officials and eminent community leaders.
Indiana’s Attorney General Curtis Hill said on this occasion that he sees the great power of quiet resolve common in the personalities of both Gurinder Singh and Rosa. “Sometimes those who bravely protest for civil rights are stereotyped as somehow threatening figures — perhaps simply because of the raw courage required to fight for justice” he added.

“I know that Gurinder Singh Khalsa has experienced and witnessed certain perceptions and situations that have been unjust.
But in his cheerful and dignified manner, he has stood for justice and free speech and freedom of religion and for so many truly American principles that make our nation great,” he said.
Indiana’s State Assembly Speaker Brian C Bosma congratulated Gurinder Singh Khalsa on receiving the award for his principled commitment to faith and his pursuit of positive change that embodies the American principles of free speech and religious freedom.