Sikh Groups in USA Hail Progress of California Bill to Counter Transnational RepressionSacramento, CA: Various Sikh groups in the United States, including the Sikh Coalition, have urged the California Assembly to pass Senate Bill 509 (SB 509), which seeks to counter transnational repression and provide stronger protections for diaspora communities. The legislation would define transnational repression under California law and require the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) to develop training programs for law enforcement to identify and respond to such threats. The Sikh Coalition reported that more than 1,200 members of the Sikh community have already contacted their elected representatives through its online advocacy tool. A Broad Coalition of SupportThe Sikh Coalition has emphasized that SB 509 has benefitted from both strong legislative champions and broad-based community backing. Transnational Repression and Sikh Communities in North AmericaSikhs in both the United States and Canada have faced a growing threat of transnational repression in recent years.