Sim J. Singh Attariwala, a well-known civil rights advocate and Director of the Anti-Hate Program at Asian Americans Advancing Justice, has been appointed as a Commissioner on the District of Columbia Human Rights Commission. He was appointed by District of Columbia mayor Muriel Bowser and confirmed by the DC Council. He became one of the first Sikh Americans to hold this position in Washington, DC.Speaking about his new role, Attariwala said: “The Commission safeguards one of the strongest civil rights laws in the country. Its work is a reminder that dignity, fairness, and equal protection must remain at the center of public life.” He added, “I look forward to contributing my experience in civil rights, anti hate work, and community engagement to help strengthen these protections for all who call the District home.”Before joining AAJC, Attariwala served as the Director of the Department of Justice’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. In that role, he worked closely with the White House and federal agencies to expand access to justice, combat hate crimes, and address religious discrimination.Attariwala holds an LLM from Georgetown University Law Center, a JD from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center, and a BS in Information Systems Management from Florida International University. His appointment has been welcomed by the community organisation Sikh Coalition, which said, “We congratulate Sim J. Singh Attariwala on his appointment and confirmation as a Commissioner on the District of Columbia Human Rights Commission.” The organisation added, “Sim’s appointment reflects the growing visibility and leadership of Sikh Americans in public service,” according to the New India Abroad. Attariwala’s new role is seen as a major step in promoting civil rights and protecting the dignity and fairness of all residents in Washington, DC, especially for marginal communities that face discrimination and hate.
