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SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - On March 3, a man broke into a Gurudwara in Washington
State's Sikh Temple of Spokane, and using ceremonial swords within the precints of the
Gurudwara, inflicted over $30,000 in damage to the building and Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji reflects the teachings of the ten Sikh Gurus and is considered the
Eternal living embodiment of the Gurus. "Our hearts are broken," Subarna Nagra, a member of
the Gurudwara, said to The Spokesman-Review.
But "these are not just Sikh values," Subarna told the local media. "They are American values." |
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According to the The Spokesman-Review, the perpetrator, 44-year-old Jeffrey C. Pittman, was
initially detained by the Gurudwara's priest - Gurjeet Singh - and another member when they
arrived for morning prayer. |
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Pittman, who was reported to be naked during the incident, broke in through a side door of the
building, a former church, and was wrapped in a blanket. Using the cerermonial swords, he
desecrated Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the altar upon which the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is
placed. He also used a fire extinguisher to further damage the property. According to local NBC
affiliate KHQ, Pittman claimed to break into the Gurudwara because he was cold and hungry and,
upon entering, believed the altar to be a site of terrorist activity.
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"What started as a random act of burglary turned into a hate crime," Spokane Sheriff Ozzie
Knezovich told KHQ. |
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Once Pittman was detained, Gurjeet Singh and other congregants offered Pittman tea while
awaiting local police. "We want him to know that we forgive him," Gurjeet Singh said, reflecting
Sikhism's tenet of tolerance even in the face of violence and hatred. This is the second hate crime
directed toward the Gurudwara: In 2003, a 14-year-old boy broke in to the building and spray
painted a swastika and racially-charged epithets on the walls. |
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"We are not the victims here," said Subarna Nagra to UNITED SIKHS. "We need to see this as
an opportunity to educate our community about who we are. And we are blessed to be
surrounded by such great support of the community." |
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Spokane Mayor David Condon and local religious leaders gathered in support of Sikh Temple of
Spokane condemning religious intolerance. "We will not stand for this in any of our houses of
worships," said Mayor Condon. |
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One young UNITED SIKHS supporter from Spokane, Raman Kaur Nagra, expressed the
following in a Facebook post: |
"It was terrifying to see our Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji torn and a room that was built with such
hard work and dedication completely destroyed and disrespected. However, it was beautiful to
see how our small community dealt with this issue. Even after this whole ordeal and the culprit
was handcuffed, the Sikh community offered the man Lungar and warm tea. When it was easier
to hate, we chose love. What hurts the most is not the materialistic things as those could be
replaced, it's the fact that someone would hurt our living Guru and strip us of our safety. Today I
ask not for anyone's sympathy, but I ask that everyone educate one another. Where hate is so
common, let's show that love is stronger. I am proud to be a Sikh where love, forgiveness, and
equality comes first." |
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The Gurudwara released this statement: |
"We don't know the motivations behind the vandalism yet, but we do know that police are
treating the case seriously and that the perpetrator has been arrested. There are no immediate
indications that bias was involved. |
No house of worship in America should ever be vandalized. The Sikh articles of faith, which
include the turban and beard, show our commitment to equality, justice and freedom for all.
These are not just Sikh values, they are American values. |
We would love take this opportunity to invite local Spokane community members to come to an
open house at our Gurdwara. We are your classmates, colleagues, neighbors and we would love
to turn this negative act of vandalism into a positive opportunity for the community to learn more
about each other. That approach to life is embedded in the Sikh ethos." |
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"All religions should be respected. Any crime committed due to someone's religious beliefs will
be a priority and fully investigated," Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said in a press release Thursday. |
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UNITED SIKHS is in contact with the Sikh Temple of Spokane, UNITED SIKHS volunteers in
the region, as well as the Department of Justice and the Community Relation Service. The
Gurudwara will hold an Open House in the next few weeks to help spread awareness of the Sikh
religion and its values. Please check out our website and Facebook page for updates. |