WASHINGTON, Aug 29 (Reuters) - California moved closer to becoming the first U.S. state to ban caste discrimination after a bill to outlaw the practise passed the California Assembly late on Monday.
California's legislation targets the caste system in South Asian immigrant communities by adding caste to the list of categories protected under the state's anti-discrimination laws.
Activists opposing caste discrimination say it is no different from other forms of discrimination like racism and hence should be outlawed.
Earlier this year, Seattle became the first U.S. city to outlaw caste discrimination after a city council vote and Toronto's school board became the first in Canada to recognize that caste discrimination existed in the city's schools.
The Dalit community is on the lowest rung of the Hindu caste system; members have been treated as "untouchables."
Persons:
Aisha Wahab, Gavin Newsom, Kanishka Singh, Marguerita Choy
Organizations:
California Assembly, Afghan, Afghan American Democrat, Seattle, Thomson
Locations:
California, U.S, ., South, Afghan American, North America, Canada, India, Washington