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American Sikhs number nearly 500,000 people and account for 0.1% of the United States population as of 2021, forming the country's seventh-largest religious group.[3] The largest Sikh populations in the U.S. are found in California, especially in the Central Valley, followed by New York and Washington. Sikhism is a religion originating from medieval India (predominantly from the Punjab region of modern-day India and Pakistan) which was introduced into the United States during the 19th century. While most American Sikhs are Punjabi, the United States also has a number of non-Punjabi converts as high as %20-30%.

Sikh men are typically identifiable by their unshorn beards, turbans (head coverings), Kara (Iron Bracelts), Kirpan(dagger), Kanga(Comb) and Kachera(Long Under pants) which are part of the 5 K's. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks by Al-Qaida, Sikhs have often been mistaken as Muslims or Arabs, and have been subject to several hate crimes, including murders.[5][6] The first deadly hate crime in the aftermath happened to a Sikh American, Balbir Singh Sodhi, who was killed outside his gas station in Mesa, Arizona. Sikh temples have also been targets of violence. A 2012 shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin garnered national and international attention, with then President Obama ordering flags to be half-staffed at all federal buildings. In response to these events, The Sikh Coalition, a volunteer organization was founded in New York to advocate for the rights of Sikhs in the United States of America.

DISCRIMINATION BEFORE 9/11: In the awakening of the 20th century, Asian immigrants witnessed at the time the start of an anti-Asian movement with a purpose of banning them from entering the United States of America. This was the result of Asian immigrants' competition with White-European Americans, since they would work for cheaper labors. In 1907, a group of white lumberjacks attacked the homes of more than 200 Sikh workers. The Sikh community was beaten and thrown outside of their houses. The following the day, the headlines in the papers described Sikhs as "dusky aliens". In 1913, the Alien Act was signed prohibiting ineligible immigrants for citizenship from owning land. Shortly after, in 1971, a law was passed by the Congress of the U.S, ending the process of immigration from certain countries also referred to as the "Barred Zones". The list contains countries like: India, China, The Soviet Union, Thailand, Afghanistan and most of the Polynesian islands. In 1994, 3 siblings, Rajinder, Cheema and Sukhjinder wore their Kirpans(dagger), part of the 5 K's, to school. The case Rajinder Singh Cheema et al v. Harold v. Thompson began after the school district suspended the 3 siblings for carrying the Kirpan in school. The school district based their case on California Penal and Education codes, which prohibits the carrying of weapons, including knives and daggers on the ground of private or public schools. In their lawsuit, the Cheema's stated that banning their kids from carrying their Kirpans to school violates their First Amendment rights. The district court advised both parties to reach a compromise agreement. When both parties failed to reach an agreement, the court imposed a plan of accommodation. The plan includes the following: -The Kirpan has to be dull blade, about 3-3/212 inches of length and 62/212-7 in total length -The Kirpan has to be tightly sewed to the sheath -The Kirpan cannot be visible and has to be worn under the clothing. -A designated official assigned by the district court may conduct inspections to confirm the conditions are met. -In case of a violation of any of the conditions stated, the student's privilege of wearing a Kirpan may be suspended. -The district court will assign an official within the school to prevent any forms of harassment, intimidation or provocation against the Cheema's.

Discrimination After 9/11: Shortly after, on the 18th of November 2001, Gobind Sadan, a Gurdwara (House of worship for Sikhism) was set on fire by a group of 4 teenagers in Upstate New York. The teenagers claimed that they thought the Sikhs who regularly attended this place of worship were part of terrorist group. The teenagers were brought to court and were found guilty of hate crime. Two of them were sentenced to 4-12 years in prison whereas the others received 90 days in county jail.

In 2016, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) began to allow turbans, subject to standards compatible with unimpeded performance of duty.^[1] In 2015, Sandeep Dhaliwal became the first Deputy Sheriff in Texas to wear a turban on duty (Harris County Sherriff's Office). He was shot and killed from behind in 2019 while conducting a routine traffic stop on the Copperbrook subdivision in Houston Texas.^[2]

In 2019, the Houston Police Department changed their rules to allow beards and turbans, joining 25 other law enforcement agencies.^[3]