California Assembly passes bill to ban caste discrimination
California moved closer to becoming the first U.S. state to ban caste discrimination after a bill to outlaw the caste practise passed the California Assembly late on Monday, Reuters reported.
The bill was passed with an overwhelming majority of 55-3 and will now be sent back to the state senate that had passed its earlier version for a concurrence vote. Once the bill is approved by the senate, it will be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom. The bill will become a law after Newsom signs it.
The bill was introduced and authored by state Senator Aisha Wahab, an Afghan American Democrat, in March.
Earlier this year, Seattle became the first U.S. city to outlaw caste discrimination after a city council vote.
“The final vote count is in and #SB403 passed 55 -3! Thank you so much for all of the folks who stood with the discriminated. Love won over bigotry and violence! Let all caste oppressed people be free everyhwere!! #Jaibhim,” read a post by Thenmozhi Soundararajan, executive director of Equality Labs.
