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Captured on film: Post-9/11 experiences of American Sikhs

May 19, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

It was a serendipitous post on The Sikh Coalition’s Facebook page that linked to the independent film A Dream in Doubt (2007), which follows Rana Singh Sodhi after his brother, Balbir, was killed in a post-9/11 hate crime in Arizona. The documentary aired on PBS’s Independent Lens : When his brother is murdered, Rana Singh Sodhi finds himself coping with national tragedy and murder, finding support in community and attempting to reclaim the American dream.

Categories: Hate Crimes, TV/Movies • Tags: 9/11, 9/11 Memorial, A Dream in Doubt, American Made, Balbir Singh Sodhi, Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath, hate crime, Independent Lens, Jan Brewer, Rana Singh Sodhi, Sharat Raju, Sikh Coalition, Valarie Kaur

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A Sikh’s reaction to the killing of Osama bin Laden

May 4, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

I was sitting in a Bay Area, California, restaurant when I first learned of the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by US Navy SEALs. At my table, we were stunned into silence by news that came completely out of left field. Almost ten years after the 9/11 attacks, Americans finally brought to justice the man behind the attacks. Video footage and images of bin Laden took over all of the televisions in the restaurant that moments before were […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: Balbir Singh Sodhi, Barack Obama, California, Osama bin Laden, Stockton, United States Navy SEALs

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Modoc Co., CA official blames ignorance for condescending reference to Sikhs

April 28, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In the northwest-most corner of California is Modoc County, somewhat remote and removed from the more populated areas of the state. You may excuse someone from such parts for being ignorant, but not for being disrespectful. However, Modoc County Supervisor Loren “Shorty” Crabtree is using ignorance to account for disrespectful comments he made about Sikhs after visiting Woodland, California (near Sacramento, California): During a routine item at the end of the board’s meeting in Alturas, Crabtree, a retired brand inspector, reported on attending an […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: California, Loren Crabtree, Modoc County, Sacramento, Woodland

“I apologized”: Arizona lawmaker backs down on removal of slain Sikh’s name from 9/11 memorial

April 27, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On September 15, 2001, Balbir Singh Sodhi was shot and killed outside of his gas station in Mesa, Arizona. His murder was one of the first post-9/11 hate crimes in the United States. His murderer, Frank Roque (who mistook Balbir Singh as an Arab), is currently serving a life sentence for the crime. Balbir Singh’s death was a turning point for Sikhs in this country, who since that day have undertaken significant efforts to bring about more Sikh awareness in the United […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: 9/11, Arizona, Balbir Singh Sodhi, Frank Roque, hate crime, Jan Brewer, John Kavanagh, memorial, Mesa, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund

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Memorial service for Gurmej Atwal this Saturday

April 19, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A memorial service for Gurmej Atwal is to take place this Saturday at the Sacramento Memorial Lawn in Sacramento, California: “Atwal left behind his children and grandchildren and his friends. They’ve all been very brave,” [Amar] Shergill said. “There’s no way to rationalize or explain why they’re victims of such a horrible event.” Gurmej Atwal was the second victim of the shootings in Elk Grove, California last month. His friend, Surinder Singh, was killed at the scene. The investigation is now for a […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: California, Elk Grove, Gurmej Atwal, hate crime, memorial service, Sacramento, Surinder Singh

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Second victim in Elk Grove, CA shooting dies

April 15, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Sacramento Bee is reporting that Gurmej Atwal, the surviving victim in the Elk Grove, CA shooting in March, died today. Surinder Singh passed away at the scene six weeks ago. There is no news on the investigation. It is a devastating and tragic loss for his family.

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: California, Elk Grove, Gurmej Atwal, hate crime, Surinder Singh

Why Diane Fisher is attending American Sikh Day

April 12, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

We cannot remain silent because an attack on one minority is an attack on all. That exhortation goes for Sikhs as well as every other group in our society. We must remember this value as a cornerstone of American principles. — Diane Fisher, of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, explains why she is attending American Sikh Day tomorrow. Read her full opinion piece in the Mercury News.

Categories: Civil Rights, Events, Hate Crimes, Interfaith • Tags: American Sikh Day, California, Capitol, Diane Fisher, Elk Grove, hate crime, Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, Sacramento

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Sikh-awareness seminars take place in California

April 12, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

As Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi this week, Sikhs are trying to bring awareness to non-Sikhs about the Sikh identity and religion. Last Saturday, an educational seminar for teachers and school officials took place at the Gurdwara in West Sacramento, CA, to bring more awareness about Sikhism and Sikhs. It was covered by local news on channel KCRA3. Click here for the video. Another seminar, sponsored by the Gurdwara in Yuba City, CA, was held today at Yuba City’s City Hall: Issues faced by […]

Categories: Events, Hate Crimes, Interfaith • Tags: Baisakhi, California, outreach, Sacramento, Sikh Awareness Seminar, Vaisakhi, West Sacramento, Yuba City

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Picture of the Day: California Senate President Darrell Steinberg

April 11, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Read the full story at the Sacramento Bee.

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits, Picture of the Day • Tags: California, California State Senate, Darrell Steinberg, Sacramento, Senate, Turban

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Category Archives: Hate Crimes

Captured on film: Post-9/11 experiences of American Sikhs

A Sikh’s reaction to the killing of Osama bin Laden

Modoc Co., CA official blames ignorance for condescending reference to Sikhs

“I apologized”: Arizona lawmaker backs down on removal of slain Sikh’s name from 9/11 memorial

Memorial service for Gurmej Atwal this Saturday

Second victim in Elk Grove, CA shooting dies

Why Diane Fisher is attending American Sikh Day

Sikh-awareness seminars take place in California

Picture of the Day: California Senate President Darrell Steinberg