Posted in ICHRALatest NewsPress Release
National “Coffee with a Sikh” Series Created to Increase Public Awareness
OAK CREEK, WI– In recognition of the 6th anniversary of the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of six Sikhs at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, UNITED SIKHS today launched a new public education campaign aimed at creating meaningful discussions about Sikh history and civil rights in America. Focusing on towns and cities where hate crimes against Sikhs have been reported, the Coffee with a Sikh series will allow non-Sikh Americans to learn about the five articles of faith in Sikhism, contributions made throughout history and statistics on hate crimes. |
“The global Sikh community continues to mourn the loss of six Sikhs who were the target of a hateful and racist attack six years ago today,” said Gurvinder Singh, UNITED SIKHS Director of Sikh Aid. “Sadly, we are still seeing hate crimes and discrimination reported throughout the country at an alarming rate, which highlights the clear need for continued education outreach programs. Our campaign to educate non-Sikh Americans with conversation over a cup of coffee is the first step towards fostering tolerance and a better understanding of the issues Sikhs experience.” |
“Sikhs are 100 times more likely to be assaulted than non-Sikh American citizens,” said Rajesh Singh, UNITED SIKHS Operations Manager. “Leveraging the power of dialogue and education, Coffee with a Sikh will help address some of the long-standing questions many non-Sikh Americans have, such as why Sikhs wear turbans and have long hair. The public will also have the opportunity to touch the articles of faith and see how a turban is tied in the approachable comfort of a local coffee shop.” |
Launched through the organization’s global Sikh Awareness Project, Coffee with a Sikh will start off in the following cities, beginning later this month:Oak Creek, WisconsinChicago, IllinoisNewark, New JerseyNew York City, New YorkWashington D.C. |
A full national schedule with coffee shop locations will be available at www.UNITEDSIKHS.org, as well as on the organization’s Facebook and Twitter pages. At a time when documented hate crimes against minority communities continue to be on the rise in the United States and across other nations around the world, UNITED SIKHS strive to be leaders in the fight against incidents of hate, bias, discrimination and intolerance. Click here to report a hate crime or discrimination. To receive a copy of our Ant-Sikhism Hate & Bullying in America report, or if you are interested in hosting Coffee with a Sikh event in your hometown, please email ops-usa@unitedsikhs.org. |
To read an original article published on the day of the Oak Creek shooting, please click here. |
Victims of Aug. 05, 2012 – Forever in our hearts: |