Gurmej Atwal |

Elk Grove, California Diversity Pledge ad (source: elkgrovecity.org)

Scene of suspected hate crimes, Elk Grove, CA to promote its diversity

August 3, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The California city of Elk Grove has been the scene of two notable and suspected hate crimes this year: the shooting deaths of Sikh seniors Surinder Singh and Gurmej Atwal during their evening walk, and the beating of a gay man at a local bowling alley. In response to these tragic incidents, the Elk Grove’s City Council is launching its Diversity Awareness Campaign to promote the diversity of the city which is centered around its “Diversity Pledge“. According to Elk Grove’s Mayor: […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits, Politics • Tags: California, Diversity Pledge, Elk Grove, Gurmej Atwal, Sacramento, Steven Detrick, Surinder Singh

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More Sikh victims of violence in California

July 15, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A strange phenomenon has been occuring in northern California where reports of violence against Sikhs (both hate-motivated and otherwise) are becoming more common. The attack on cabbie Harbhajan Singh in West Sacramento, CA, the unsolved murders of seniors Surinder Singh and Gurmej Atwal in Elk Grove, CA, and the unsolved murder of Balbir Singh Dhami – also in Elk Grove – all involved attacks on turban-wearing men and all occured within the same metropolitan area in less than a year. […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: Balbir Singh Dhami, Elk Grove, Gurmej Atwal, Harbhajan Singh, hate crime, Jagtar Singh Kang, Sacramento, Surinder Singh, taxicab, Yuba City

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Police release suspect sketch in Balbir Singh Dhami murder case

June 17, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Police in Sacramento, California have released a sketch of the suspect in the murder of Balbir Singh Dhami and new photos of the suspect’s vehicle. The victim in this crime was the third Sikh murdered in Elk Grove, California in a span of three months. Balbir Singh Dhami reportedly had a dubious drug-related past and (unlike the murders of Surinder Singh and Gurmej Atwal in Elk Grove in March) his is not considered a hate-motivated crime. His wife, who was […]

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

Sacramento, California Gurdwara contributes reward in search of attacker of gay man

June 14, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

“The Sikh Community condemns this disgusting attack motivated by ignorance and hate,” Sikh Temple spokesman Darshan Singh Mundy, said in a written statement announcing the reward. “In light of the recent murders of two Sikhs in Elk Grove and the hate crime conviction in Yolo County (of two men who attacked a Sikh taxi driver), we are especially sensitive to such crimes. We hope that our reward will help bring these criminals to justice.” — The Gurdwara in West Sacramento, […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits • Tags: Balbir Singh Dhami, California, Elk Grove, Gurmej Atwal, hate crime, Joel Olivarez, Surinder Singh, West Sacramento

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Two more Sikhs shot in Elk Grove, California

May 19, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Only minutes from where Surinder Singh and Gurmej Atwal were shot and killed while on a walk in Elk Grove , California, last March (a murder that has yet gone unsolved), a middle-aged Sikh couple have reportedly been shot this morning in the same city: Sacramento police are searching for an armed suspect in the North Laguna Creek area who they believe fatally shot a man and critically injured a woman this morning. The gunman is described as a short black man […]

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

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Recap: Funeral service for Gurmej Atwal

April 25, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The funeral service for Gurmej Atwal, the second victim of the Elk Grove, California shootings, took place last Saturday and was covered by local media. The Elk Grove Patch reports: About 200 members of the Sikh and Sacramento community gathered Saturday afternoon at the Sacramento Memorial Lawn to mourn the death of Gurmej Atwal, one of two victims of the recent Sikh shooting. Preceding Atwal’s cremation was a two-and-a-half-hour long memorial service, where family members, friends, members of the Sikh community […]

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

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

Celebrate “American Sikh Day” in Sacramento, CA: April 13, 2011

April 1, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Sikhs in the Sacramento, California area will be gathering on the west steps of the State Capitol building (click here for a map) on Wednesday April 13, 2011 from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM to commemorate the first “American Sikh Day“: American Sikh Day A Celebration of this Nation and Religious Freedom Wednesday, April 13th, 2011 11:00AM – 1:30PM West Steps of the State Capitol (10th & Capitol Streets) Come help us celebrate: ✓ Our Sikh faith ✓ Our history in California […]

Categories: Events • Tags: American Sikh Day, Baisakhi, California, Capitol, Darrell Steinberg, Elk Grove, Gurmej Atwal, hate crime, Sacramento, Sikh, Surinder Singh, Vaisakhi

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: Gurmej Atwal

Scene of suspected hate crimes, Elk Grove, CA to promote its diversity

More Sikh victims of violence in California

Police release suspect sketch in Balbir Singh Dhami murder case

Sacramento, California Gurdwara contributes reward in search of attacker of gay man

Two more Sikhs shot in Elk Grove, California

Recap: Funeral service for Gurmej Atwal

Memorial service for Gurmej Atwal this Saturday

Second victim in Elk Grove, CA shooting dies

Celebrate “American Sikh Day” in Sacramento, CA: April 13, 2011