Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoes California bill banning caste discrimination
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a groundbreaking legislation that would have banned caste discrimination in education, housing, and the workplace, potentially making it the first of its kind in the nation.
Senate Bill 403 (SB 403), introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab, aimed to criminalize discrimination based on ancestry within the state. The proposed legislation had caused divisions within South Asian communities in California.
“I am returning Senate Bill 403 without my signature,” Newsom wrote in a letter addressed to the “Members of the California State Senate,” dated October 7.
READ: California Assembly approves anti-caste discrimination bill (August 29, 2023)
The governor explained the rationale behind the veto: “In California, we believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, where they come from, who they love, or where they live. That is why California already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other characteristics, and state law specifies that these civil rights protections shall be liberally construed.”
The Washington-based Hindu American Foundation, which led the opposition to the bill, welcomed the veto. “Today, we at the Hindu American Foundation join South Asians across California and the Hindu American community in offering our heartfelt appreciation to California Governor Gavin Newsom for his historically important veto of SB-403. This is a victory for the civil rights of all Californians,” Samir Kalra, managing director of the foundation, said.
READ: California State Senate passes caste discrimination bill (May 12, 2023)
Supporters of the bill, however, expressed disappointment in the veto.
Sunita Viswanath, cofounder of the Hindus for Human Rights, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter:
“Devastated that @GavinNewsom vetoed #SB403 and let down the battalion of Americans who fought to #EndCasteDiscrimination in California. A dark day for justice in the United States. Rest assured that anti-caste Americans will dust ourselves off and continue the fight.”
A Democrat and the first Afghan American woman elected to the state legislature, Wahab introduced the bill on March 22. It received overwhelming support in the California Senate, passing with a vote of 34-1.
READ: California caste bias bill clears Senate panel (April 27, 2023)
In recent years, caste has emerged as a significant issue in various cities and states. In February, it became the first U.S. city to prohibit discrimination based on caste following a vote by the city council.
Recently, the California city of Fresno, California, became the second city, to ban caste discrimination, after the City Council voted unanimously to incorporate two new protected categories into its municipal code.
