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FBI joins investigation of Michigan Gurdwara vandalism as possible hate crime

February 17, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The FBI is joining the investigation of the vandalism of a Gurdwara under construction in Sterling Heights, Michigan, almost two weeks ago: DEARBORN, Mich. (WTW) — The U.S. Justice Department says the FBI is joining local law enforcement agencies to investigate vandalism at Muslim and Sikh houses of worship in the Detroit area. U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade and Detroit FBI chief Andrew Arena announced Thursday that federal authorities will participate in the probes of two attacks that happened this month […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Graffiti, Gurdwara, hate crime, Michigan, Sterling Heights

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UPDATE: Plainview, NY Sikhs return to Gurdwara

February 15, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Sikhs of Plainview, New York, whose Gurdwara, the Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Center, was shut down last year due to code violations, have been allowed to return and conduct services again after resolving some of their issues: Phyliss Barry, a spokeswoman for the town, said the gurdwara’s leaders have rectified some of the code violations and are continuing to work with the town to comply with the remaining issues. Good news for that congregation, and best of luck to […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Center, New York, Plainview, Town of Oyster Bay

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US attorney wants Sikhs to report hate crimes

February 14, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

“Especially after you learn about all that, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would want to discriminate against the Sikh community,” Haag said. “We have one of the most tolerant communities in the United States right here in the Bay Area, so if that discrimination is happening here, that’s really disturbing.” — US Attorney Melinda Haag, after learning about Sikhism while meeting with Bay Area Sikhs at the Gurdwara in El Sobrante, California on Sunday. Haag’s meeting was to encourage […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: California, El Sobrante, FBI, FBI Hate Crime Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Melinda Haag, United States Attorney

Suspect Vehicle in Elk Grove, CA, murders of Sikh grandfathers (source: Sacramento Bee)

Elk Grove, CA PD provides new details about search of murders of Sikhs

February 8, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Elk Grove, California Police Department provided an update today in their search for the killer(s) of Sikh seniors Surinder Singh and Gurmej Atwal, who were shot and killed last year while on their daily walk. Based on witness accounts, the police have now have a confirmed description of the suspect’s vehicle: At a press conference this afternoon, police officials said the suspect drove a lifted full-size pick-up truck, tan or gold in color, with a standard-size cab, similar to […]

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

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Gurdwara in Sterling Heights, MI, vandalized in apparent hate crime

February 7, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) alerts us to vandalism of a Gurdwara completing construction in Sterling Heights, Michigan: According to reports directly from the gurdwara management committee, the vandalism happened between the evening of Feb 5th and the morning of February 6, 2012. The graffiti included vulgar language, racial epithets, the use of what appears to be a cross, a large drawing of a gun, and references to the attacks of September 11th. The new site […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: Graffiti, hate crime, Michigan, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Sterling Heights

Elk Grove, CA PD to update on investigation of Sikh murders

February 6, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The police department of Elk Grove, California, site of the unsolved murders of Sikh seniors Surinder Singh and Gurmej Atwal, have scheduled a news conference this Wednesday at 1 PM to update the community on the on-going investigation: “We don’t have a suspect,” said department spokesperson Christopher Trim. “There is some additional information we’re going to be putting out, and we’re going to be asking for the public’s help in solving this crime.” Let’s hope the additional information will help […]

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

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No record of Jay Leno’s history of insulting Sikhs

February 2, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

I hate to perpetuate this story, but in regard to issue around Jay Leno’s joke depicting Darbar Sahib on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, I think it is important to note that, for the record: A thorough search of Jay Leno’s monologues show that claims by two California Sikhs that the comedian insulted the community with his monologues in 2007, in which he allegedly called Sikhs ‘diaper heads,’ and in 2010, in which he allegedly embellished about the president’s […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: Darbar Sahib, Jay Leno, Mitt Romney, NBC, Tonight Show

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Sikhs wanted attention? Fox & Friends’ Gretchen Carlson is at it again

January 31, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Leno-gate has now hit Fox news channel’s Bill O’Reilly and Gretchen Carlson. You will remember Gretchen Carlson from her diatribe that lamented the “killing” of Christmas at a Stockton, California elementary school on account of the presence of America’s oldest Gurdwara in that city (“those people”, as she put it). Without going into a litany of complaints about the stereotypes discussed in O’Reilly’s interview on the Fox News program “The O’Reilly Factor”, (such as: sued by an “Indian”, Californians are […]

Categories: News Bits, TV/Movies • Tags: Bill O'Reilly, Darbar Sahib, Gretchen Carlson, Jay Leno

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Leno-gate, Sense, and Nonsense

January 26, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

I really wish we could move on from this story, but unfortunately, it is dominating Sikh-related news. The hysteria following Jay Leno’s bit that involved a depiction of Darbar Sahib (aka The Golden Temple) refuses to die. Now that a Sikh physician in California has initiated a lawsuit against Leno, and the SGPC (the authority that manages Darbar Sahib and many other Gurdwaras in India) has demanded action from the US Government, and even politicians in the United Kingdom are […]

Categories: News Bits, TV/Movies • Tags: Darbar Sahib, Golden Temple, Harmandir Sahib, Jay Leno, Mitt Romney, Sikhtoons, Sonny Singh Brooklynwala, T. Sher Singh, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Category Archives: News Bits

FBI joins investigation of Michigan Gurdwara vandalism as possible hate crime

UPDATE: Plainview, NY Sikhs return to Gurdwara

US attorney wants Sikhs to report hate crimes

Elk Grove, CA PD provides new details about search of murders of Sikhs

Gurdwara in Sterling Heights, MI, vandalized in apparent hate crime

Elk Grove, CA PD to update on investigation of Sikh murders

No record of Jay Leno’s history of insulting Sikhs

Sikhs wanted attention? Fox & Friends’ Gretchen Carlson is at it again

Leno-gate, Sense, and Nonsense