Piara Singh |

Attacker of Fresno, CA, Sikh senior deemed unfit to stand trial

October 23, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Back in May, Gilbert Garcia attacked an elderly Sikh man named Piara Singh with a metal rod outside a Gurdwara in Fresno, California. Piara Singh, 82 years old, was hospitalized due to the injuries he sustained that included severe head injuries and collapsed lung. He was discharged home where he is recovering from his injuries. The attack was quickly deemed a hate crime based on statements made by Garcia after the attack. On Monday, after a third medical evaluation, it […]

Categories: Hate Crimes • Tags: California, Fresno, Gilbert Garcia, hate crime, hate crimes, Piara Singh

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Attacker of Fresno, CA, Sikh senior charged with hate crime

May 30, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Gilbert Garcia, who is accused of brutally attacking 82-year-old Piara Singh on May 5 as he walked home from a Gurdwara in Fresno, California, has now been also charged with a hate crime. Garcia was initially charged with attempted murder and elderly abuse as well, for which he has pleaded not guilty. Interestingly, shortly after the assault, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer strongly suggested that the attack on Piara Singh was a hate crime, and it was reported that Garcia […]

Categories: Hate Crimes • Tags: California, Fresno, Gilbert Garcia, hate crimes, Piara Singh

Jasdeep Singh of Jakara Movement Misl Fresno discusses community engagement projects to help prevent future hate crime attacks in the community. (Source: YouTube)

A community effort against hate crimes

May 24, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Jasdeep Singh of Jakara Movement in Fresno, California, describes the community’s response to the alleged hate-motivated assault on 82-year-old Piara Singh almost two weeks ago: Animosity and hatred fester in places where people do not engage, interact and share with one another. Law enforcement can react but not prevent; the same is also true of legislation. One should not need to be “educated” or even require greater “awareness” to know not to attack innocent, elderly men. Read more at The […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes, Interfaith • Tags: California, Fresno, hate crimes, Jakara Movement, Jasdeep Singh, Piara Singh

Piara Singh speaks to local media about being attacked on May 5 in Fresno, California. (Source: ABC30/KFSN)

Piara Singh, 82-year-old assault victim, speaks about his attack

May 21, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Piara Singh, the 82-year-old Sikh man who was brutally assaulted in an alleged hate crime on May 5 in Fresno, California, spoke to local media about the attack that has left him with dozens of stitches, broken ribs and a punctured lung — injuries from which he is still recovering: “You have good people and you have bad people, this person was not a good person when he attacked me but there are very wonderful people who are out there […]

Categories: Hate Crimes • Tags: California, Fresno, hate crimes, Piara Singh

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Pizza is prepared by members of Jakara Movement Fresno as part of community outreach in wake of attack on Sikh senior. (source: KSEE)

Pizza and kindness in Fresno, California

May 16, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In the wake of the apparent hate-motivated attack on 82-year-old Piara Singh near Gurdwara Nanaksar (a Sikh house of worship) in Fresno, California almost two weeks ago, members of Jakara Movement Misl Fresno are using pizza as means to engage with the local community in their “Know Your Neighbors” initiative: Local supporters will be sharing pizzas to local communities in appreciation of their support after the hate crime. The initiative is meant to get to know the neighbors better and […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, Interfaith • Tags: California, Fresno, hate crimes, Jakara Movement, Piara Singh, pizza

Rethinking the hate crime villain

May 14, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

After the attack on 82-year-old Piara Singh in Fresno, California, nine days ago, Preeti Kaur (on her blog The Longest There) considers the suspected perpetrator and delves into the meaning of “hate crime”: The term hate-crime is a peculiar term. Others have discussed the definition of hate-crimes and need for such a delineation, of course, but for me its peculiarity is that in the act of describing a hate-crime as a hate-crime, the biggest offense becomes the hate, and the crime […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, Reflections • Tags: California, Fresno, Gilbert Garcia, hate crimes, Piara Singh, Preeti Kaur, The Longest There

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"Bias Motivation Information" section of the FBI's Hate Crime Incident Report 1-699. (source: FBI)

Hate-motivated attack on Piara Singh emphasizes need for tracking

May 10, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

After yet another hate crime against a Sikh American — this time on an 82-year-old man in Fresno, California — Simran Kaur of the Sikh Coalition raises the issue of the absence of tracking by the FBI of hate crimes against Sikhs: You read that right. Although Sikhs continue to experience hate crimes because of their distinct religious identity, the FBI has no distinct category to track such crimes. While hate crimes against other racial and religious groups are tracked, […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, Resources • Tags: California, FBI, FBI Hate Crime Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Form 1-699, Fresno, hate crimes, Piara Singh, Sikh Coalition, Simran Kaur

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The turban as a beacon of love

May 8, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

After learning of the attack on 82-year-old Piara Singh in Fresno, California, blogger Anita Singha shares her thoughts about the elder Sikhs in her life: Maybe their children have warned them to stay home. I hope not, I need to see their Sikh spirit, their courageous bravery rise to the occasion. Their morning constitutional in a busy city park, sitting on public transportation a silent protest against hatred and ignorance. Read more on Anita Singha’s blog Listening Hard.

Categories: Hate Crimes, Reflections • Tags: Anita Singha, California, Fresno, hate crime, Listening Hard, Piara Singh

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Fresno PD Chief Jerry Dyer. (source: ABC30)

Fresno Police: Piara Singh was targeted for who he was

May 8, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

“Mr. Singh was targeted because of who he was, what he was wearing, his ethnicity, his religion.” — Fresno Police Department Chief Jerry Dyer speaks at last night’s community meeting in Fresno, California, addressing the vicious assault of 82-year-old Piara Singh on Sunday. Sikh24 reports that Piara Singh is likely to be discharged from hospital tonight. According to the Associated Press, Gilbert Garcia, the only suspect, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and elder abuse charges, and that hate […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Hate Crimes • Tags: California, Fresno, Fresno Police Department, Gilbert Garcia, Jerry Dyer, Piara Singh

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: Piara Singh

Attacker of Fresno, CA, Sikh senior deemed unfit to stand trial

Attacker of Fresno, CA, Sikh senior charged with hate crime

A community effort against hate crimes

Piara Singh, 82-year-old assault victim, speaks about his attack

Pizza and kindness in Fresno, California

Rethinking the hate crime villain

Hate-motivated attack on Piara Singh emphasizes need for tracking

The turban as a beacon of love

Fresno Police: Piara Singh was targeted for who he was