Join the movement and make Punjabi an official language of California.

Support Assembly Bill 3179 (Salas) to recognize the Punjabi language in California and increase bilingual services for ALL Californians.

CURRENT UPDATE - The bill passed both houses (assembly and senate) with a no-vote. It is now before Governor Brown and we hope he will sign it to law.

Did you know?

• Over 140,000 Punjabi language speakers live in California.
• Punjabi is the 3rd most spoken language in most counties between Kern County and Sutter County.
• Punjabi has been spoken in California for nearly 120 years, since the first Sikh migrants arrived in California.
• The first Punjabi newspaper printing press in California dates to 1913, where Kartar Singh Sarabha published The Ghadar with financial support from the Stockton Gurdwara.

This bill will make sure that the State of California recognizes the Punjabi language and will vastly increase state-mandated translations and interpreter availability across the state.  The effects are already pronounced as many counties will have Punjabi ballots this June.

Join the movement to make Punjabi an official language of California and increase bilingual services for all Californians!

Together we can make this a law in California! Spread the word. Share your story about how Punjabi language access may change your life or those of your family members. Use your social media handles to repost Jakara posts or create your own posts using:
#Punjabifornia

Suggested TWITTER/FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM posts:

• Language Access for All - Recognize Punjabi. #Punjabifornia
• No more discrimination against Punjabi. #Punjabifornia

See the text of the bill here.

Please urge the GOVERNOR to support AB 3179.

Arm yourself with these facts:

Punjabi is one the ten most-spoken languages in California.

Punjabi has special designation by the Secretary of State in Alameda, Sutter, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, and Kern Counties.

Punjabi is the third most-spoken language in Central California.

Current California Assembly sponsors:

Rudy Salas (D) - Bakersfield
Jim Patterson (R) - Fresno
Frank Bigelow (R) - Madera
Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D) - Fresno
Ash Kalra (D) - San Jose
Jim Cooper (D) - Elk Grove
Devon Mathis (R) - Visalia

California Senate sponsor:

Jim Nielson (R) - Yuba City

AB 3179 passed the California Assembly and Senate without a dissenting vote. It is now before Governor Brown.

Please urge your ORGANIZATION/GURDWARA/INSTITUTION/NONPROFIT to support AB 3179.

We have received letters of support from:
Jakara Movement (sponsor)
Allen Wayne Warren, Councilmember, District 2, City of Sacramento
American Sikh Public Affairs Association
Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus
Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collective
Clinton Olivier, Councilmember, District 7, City of Fresno
Dolores Huerta Foundation
Esmeralda Soria, Council President, District 1, City of Fresno
Faith in the Valley
Garry Bredefeld, Councilmember, District 6, City of Fresno
GHG Sangeet and Dance Academy Inc.
Hmong Innovating Politics
Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno
Jim Avalos, Mayor, City of Selma
Karen K. Goh, Mayor, City of Bakersfield
Khalsa Care Foundation
Khelmel
Korean Resource Center
Lee Brand, Mayor, City of Fresno
Luis Chavez, Councilmember, District 5, City of Fresno
Mi Familia Vota
Mike Maggard, Supervisor, District 3, Kern County
Nanak Prachar Sabha, Inc.
North American Punjabi Trucking Association
Northern California Sikh Council
Oliver Baines, Councilmember, District 3, City of Fresno
Organization for Minorities of India (OFMI)
Punjabi American Heritage Society
Punjabi Cultural Association of Central Valley
Punjabi Radio USA
Punjabi Trucking
Radio KBIF AM 900 - Punjabi Radio - Shaan Punjab Di
Sikh Center of the Pacific Coast
Sikh Council of Central California
Sikh Gurdwara, San Jose
Sikh Information Centre
Sikh Institute of Fresno
Sikh Society of San Diego
Sikh Temple of Bakersfield
Sikh Temple Gurdwara Yuba City
Sikh Temple Gridley-Live Oak
Sikh Temple Sacramento
Sikh Temple - San Francisco Bay Area, Fremont
Sikh Temple Center - El Sobrante 
Sikh Women's Alliance (SWA), Bakersfield
Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Rio Linda
SIREN (Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network)
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)
The Center at Sierra Health Foundation
UCLA School of Law - South Asian Law Students Association 

SIGN THE PETITION and SHARE IT!  The goal is 60,000 signatures.