News Bits | | Page 23

Sacramento cab driver attacked, cont’d

December 7, 2010 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

There have been a few updates over the past few days on this story: California Assemblywoman Marika Yamada out of West Sacramento has been supportive since Harbhajan Singh’s attack. Last Sunday, she addressed Sikhs at the Sacramento Sikh Temple: “More than 60 years ago, the Japanese were being discriminated against. The Chinese were wearing buttons that read, ‘I am Chinese’ so they wouldn’t be mistaken as Japanese,” said Yamada. “After September 11th, we’re seeing a similar situation with Sikhs and Muslims. […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: California, Harbhajan Singh, hate crime, Marika Yamada, robbery, Sacramento, taxicab

The month of religious celebration or discrimination?

December 3, 2010 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Rich Meneghello is a lawyer based in Portland, Oregon, and writes about what defines religious discrimination in the workplace: December is the month when most religious discrimination claims originate, so employers should prepare for the holiday season carefully. Fast fact: Religion-related claims are the fastest-growing charges filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; from 1,388 in 1992 to 3,386 in 2009. Although there is no single explanation for the rise in filings, common theories include enhanced awareness of employee rights, […]

Categories: Civil Rights, News Bits • Tags: Cultural Competence, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Religious discrimination, workplace

Sacramento cab driver attacked, cont’d

December 2, 2010 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

No sooner did I write this that great news came through that two men have been arrested in the attack on Harbhajan Singh, a cab driver in Sacramento: …West Sacramento Police Lt. Tod Sockman announced the 41-year-old suspect [Pedro Antonio Ramirez] along with 33-year-old Johnny Morales turned themselves in to police. …The suspects were arrested on charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon and commission of a hate crime. Both men are now in Yolo County Jail. Let us […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: California, Harbhajan Singh, hate crime, Johnny Morales, Pedro Antonio Ramirez, robbery, Sacramento, taxicab

Minnesota’s Sikhs have a new home

December 2, 2010 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Next month, Sikhs in Bloomington, Minnesota will have a new Gurdwara (Sikh temple). The Sikh congregation has been holding services in a building that was formerly a McDonald’s restaurant. The new building will be much bigger: Its nearly 300 followers, however, have outgrown the space and will move to the 8,000-square-foot former church building in Bloomington off 9000 Bloomington Freeway W. The Sikh Society of Minnesota bought the property for $600,000 and is spending up to $300,000 to renovate it, […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: Bloomington, Gurdwara, Kehar Singh, Minnesota, Raj Singh

Sacramento cab driver attacked, cont’d

December 2, 2010 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

West Sacramento Police have named a suspect in the attack of Sacramento cab driver Harbhajan Singh: Lt. Tod Sockman said detectives and Sacramento police SWAT officers served arrest and search warrants at the Sacramento, Binghampton Drive residence of 41-year-old Pedro Antonio Ramirez Thursday morning. Sockman said Ramirez is wanted for assault with a deadly weapon and commission of a hate crime in the attack on Herbhejan Singh. However, Ramirez is still at large and may be hiding from police: The […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: California, FBI, Harbhajan Singh, hate crime, Mariko Yamada, Pedro Antonio Ramirez, robbery, Sacramento, taxicab

Kenneth Cole supports Sikhs

December 1, 2010 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Sikh Coalition has announced an arrangement with clothing designer/merchant Kenneth Cole whereby presenting this coupon at their stores will get you 20% off your purchase, and Kenneth Cole will also donate the equivalent of 20% of the purchase to the Sikh Coalition. This is a great opportunity to support the Coalition during this holiday/shopping season. This isn’t the first time Kenneth Cole has associated themselves with Sikhs. Back in 2008, the clothing chain featured a turban-wearing Sikh on their billboard […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: coupon, Kenneth Cole, Sikh Coalition

Sacramento cab driver attacked, cont’d

December 1, 2010 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

“Attacks on innocent individuals are always inexcusable, but the use of racial, ethnic and religious slurs are especially heinous and have no place in our society,” said SALDEF Associate Executive Director Jasjit Singh. “We call upon the West Sacramento Police Department and the FBI to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted and that hate crimes charges are brought against any culprits that are found.” — The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) is also calling for the investigation […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: California, FBI, Harbhajan Singh, hate crime, robbery, Sacramento, SALDEF, taxicab

Sacramento cab driver attacked, cont’d

November 30, 2010 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Anti-Defamation League, an organization that combats anti-Semitism, is also calling for the investigation of the attack on cab driver Harbhajan Singh as a hate crime: This brutal incident is deplorable. People of all faiths should be able to feel secure when expressing their religious beliefs. This hard working man was merely doing his job when he was apparently singled out because of his appearance. We are confident that law enforcement will do all it can to track down the […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: Anti-Defamation League, California, Harbhajan Singh, hate crime, robbery, Sacramento, taxicab

Sacramento cab driver attacked, cont’d

November 30, 2010 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Despite already robbing him of the money he carried in his taxicab, Harbhajan Singh was continually attacked physically while his attackers called him “Osama Bin Laden”. Police are thus far only treating this as a robbery: Police said the assault and robbery appeared to be an isolated incident and, contrary to some media reports, it is not being investigated as a hate crime. It seems that as long as you attach the hate crime to another crime, you get a free pass on beating an innocent man […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: California, Council on American-Islamic Relations, FBI, Harbhajan Singh, hate crime, robbery, Sacramento, taxicab

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Category Archives: News Bits

Sacramento cab driver attacked, cont’d

The month of religious celebration or discrimination?

Sacramento cab driver attacked, cont’d

Minnesota’s Sikhs have a new home

Sacramento cab driver attacked, cont’d

Kenneth Cole supports Sikhs

Sacramento cab driver attacked, cont’d

Sacramento cab driver attacked, cont’d

Sacramento cab driver attacked, cont’d