In his veto message, California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that a recently proposed bill aimed at prohibiting caste discrimination is unnecessary because existing civil rights protections already prohibit such discrimination. Newsom emphasized that in California, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their caste, identity, or background. The veto comes as a blow to state senator Aisha Wahab, who championed the bill, and its supporters, who launched a hunger strike and held rallies outside the Capitol to pressure Newsom into signing the bill. However, opponents of the legislation argue that it could stigmatize Hindus and people from South Asia, as caste has historical associations in that region.
The vetoed bill has sparked controversy and drew national attention during the legislative session in California. Advocates for the bill argue that it is necessary to address and prevent caste discrimination, while opponents, including national Hindu groups, assert that the legislation unfairly targets and stigmatizes Hindus and South Asian communities. The Hindu American Foundation and the Coalition of Hindus of North America lobbied lawmakers to oppose the bill and have vowed to challenge it in court. Republican state senators Brian Jones and Shannon Grove wrote a letter to Governor Newsom urging him to veto the bill, claiming that it would not only discriminate against South Asian Californians but also pose risks to other residents and businesses in the state. The bill faced additional opposition from progressive colleagues of state senator Aisha Wahab, resulting in amendments to decrease the prominence of the term “caste” in the law. Notably, Seattle became the first city to pass a caste discrimination ordinance earlier this year, and Fresno recently followed suit, making it the first city in California to do so.
