Posted in ICHRA
| Queens, New York: With the shooting of another Sikh on March 4, 2017, in Kent, Washington, USA, we see that the events of 9/11 have historical impact. This impact is still becoming evident today and is felt in the vengeance attacks and killings against Sikhs resulting from that event. The Sikh community has become the most visible targets of the ignorance and Muslim retaliation and violence stemming from 9/11. |
| Sikhism is a 500 year old religion whose followers believe in service to others, tolerance, defense of the helpless and equality. There are more than 25,000,000 Sikhs worldwide and approximately up to 500,000 in the United States. Sikhs have existed in the United States for over 100 years, most hailing from Northern India fleeing religious persecution, states Manvinder Singh, UNITED SIKHS Director. |
| Until recently, what a Sikh is was unknown to most Americans but the Sikh community is now in the national spotlight because they are repeatedly the victims of 9/11 retaliation and violence. “There have been many Sikh deaths or injuries directly linked to retaliation for 9/11; many since President Trump took office. There are still more killings that are mysteries that can only be explained in terms of the community’s experience with this kind of hate violence since 9/11. The execution style killing of a 17-year-old Sikh boy in his family�s garage in Northern California in November, 2016 is such a mystery and it can lead to panic,” states Ms. Guljit Kaur Bains, an attorney in Queens, New York. |
| On Friday, March 4, 2017, according to the U.S. press and social media, the most recent victim was shot in Kent, Washington by a masked man because of who he is perceived to be and or because of the ideas he is presumed to have and because of the color of his skin or the religious turban and beavrd he wears. “The Sikh turban is often mistaken for the attire Middle Eastern men and women wear when in fact most of turban wearing men and women around the world are Sikh,” says Mr. Manvinder Singh. |
| “The events of 9/11 alone are not to blame,” states Ms. Bains. “There is growing anti-immigration propaganda and an executive branch moving on immigration in a way that ignores civil and human rights. These are also the legacies and reactionary results of 9/11.” |
| UNITED SIKHS staff continues to reach out and educate the American public and leaders about Sikhism in the hopes that putting a face on victims will get the needed response. “We have sent letters to the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights and Criminal Divisions in the hopes that they will lend the necessary resources to the investigation of these heinous crimes, says Mr. Singh. |
| To counter the voices that perpetuate hate, we say that the wrongs perpetrated against any community because of their race and or religion is irrational and wrong. We spread the message that any hate violence and racial profiling is wrong, UNITED SIKHS staff extends sincerest wishes for a quick recovery and peace to the victims and their families. |
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Issued by,
Wanda Sanchez Day, Esq.
National Legal Director, UNITED SIKHS
Tel: 1-646-688-3525
E: law-usa@unitedsikhs.org | contact@unitedsikhs.org
