California Caste Bill Reveals Broad Tensions Over Fighting Bias

Debate is swirling in California over a caste bias bill awaiting the governor’s review, as this form of discrimination gains new attention across the country in legislatures, courtrooms, and even at the American Bar Association.

Sacramento is the hub of the action after California legislators passed the nation’s first state measure (SB 403) explicitly banning caste bias in the workplace, housing, schools, and public places.

A signature from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) would be a milestone for advocates, but a blow to opponents within the state’s South Asian population who have said the bill would have downstream anti-Hindu ...