Fresno Joins Seattle in Banning Caste Discrimination

Fresno, California, has become the second city in the United States to ban caste discrimination, following a unanimous city council vote that added caste and indigeneity as protected categories in its municipal code. This movement against caste discrimination has gained momentum in North America, with Seattle being the first U.S. city to outlaw caste discrimination earlier this year. Activists aim to fight against caste discrimination throughout the United States, and a bill in California that aims to ban caste discrimination statewide is currently awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom's signature. The caste system, one of the world's oldest forms of social stratification, continues to oppress lower castes, particularly the Dalit community, in India and beyond.