For Immediate Release:
August 24, 2023

NAPABA Calls for Caste Equity and Endorses California Legislation Banning Caste Discrimination

WASHINGTON -The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) endorses California Senate Bill 403 (SB 403), which would add caste as a protected characteristic under California’s civil rights laws. The endorsement of the bill, which passed the California State Senate and is pending in the California State Assembly, follows recently approved resolutions by NAPABA and the American Bar Association, respectively, calling for a ban on caste discrimination and urging policymakers at all levels to prohibit discrimination on the basis of caste. The ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice along with NAPABA sponsored the ABA resolution.

“NAPABA is proud to join in this effort with a broad array of our coalition partners to advance equity within our community,” said Sandra Leung, President of NAPABA. “Current anti-discrimination laws, which target protected characteristics such as race and national origin, may not cover caste, which is a distinct characteristic. But the very nature of caste discrimination is equally invidious. Legislation such as SB 403 closes this gap and ensures that our community enjoy what is guaranteed to every person in this Nation – the equal protection of the law.”

Caste is a system of social stratification, passed down from one generation to the next and enforced through social, economic, and religious norms. Though not widely known, caste discrimination has a long-rooted history in the United States. It impacts not only the South Asian American community, which is often associated closely with the issue, but it also impacts other ethnic and religious communities. Like race, caste is immutable, and members of caste-oppressed communities can face severe consequences once their caste is disclosed, such as a loss of their livelihood, social alienation, and violence.

“Bias and discrimination in any form is unacceptable, and the decision to take action against caste discrimination is a positive step forward in the pursuit of social justice. The steps taken by the ABA, the California Senate, and the City of Seattle in trying to take action against this form of discrimination is a positive step forward, and we encourage other cities and states to follow suit. On behalf of the South Asian bar throughout North America, we take to heart our duty to promote equal rights and access to justice for everyone in the South Asian community. We are proud to have been a leader in this effort and look forward to continuing to work with NAPABA in fighting discrimination of all types,” said Charan Brahma, President, South Asian Bar Association of North America.

NAPABA is grateful to SABA North America, which endorsed SB 403 in April 2023, for their long-standing leadership and advocacy. We are also thankful for the tireless efforts of our coalition partners, including the leadership and staff of the ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, chaired by Juan R. Thomas, the NAPABA Civil Rights Committee, chaired by Navdeep Singh and Zack Gima, and Wendy C. Shiba, NAPABA’s Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates and former NAPABA President.  

We also appreciate our affiliates and partner organizations, such as the California Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors Association, the Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego, and the Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego for their endorsement of SB 403.

For additional background on this topic, please visit the website of the American Bar Association.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 60,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of all backgrounds in the legal profession.