Dear Sheriff,

I am a concerned community member who was dismayed to learn about the second Muslim woman in two years to be forced by Santa Clara County Sheriff's deputies to remove her hijab. This woman is a member of my community, and it is very upsetting to have learned that she was held for three days with her hair uncovered while in detention last October—despite her best efforts to explain her religious beliefs about wearing hijab. Ultimately, she was not even charged with a crime.

My family and I need to be able to trust that our local elected officials will protect our civil rights and that local law enforcement will respect these rights. I urge you to ensure the Sheriff’s office issues a formal apology and meets with the woman in question; conducts cultural and religious competency training for all officers involved in booking, search, seizure, detention, and arrests at the County's correctional facilities; and implements a periodic review of these trainings to ensure that they are effective.

%%your signature%%