Sikhs among ‘top targets’ of US hate crimes

Washington, August 7

Sikhs are one of the top targets of hate crimes and sectarian violence in the US, the community leaders have said as they remembered victims of the 2012 mass shooting by a white supremacist that claimed the lives of six Sikhs at a gurdwara in Wisconsin city.

Several eminent Sikh Americans from across the US, lawmakers, government officials and local leaders participated in prayers held on the weekend to mark the five-year anniversary of the mass shooting.

“We have made commendable efforts to secure our gurdwaras all across the country and taken many preventive measures. But Sikhs are still one of the top targets of hate crimes, sectarian violence and bullying in American schools.

“In recent years, attacks have rather increased manifold,” said Gurinder Singh Khalsa, who heads the Sikhs Political Action Committee.

“Hate has no colour. Hate has no face. Yet we all saw hate five years ago,” Blahair Dulai, president of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, said, addressing the gathering.

Among the speakers yesterday at the gurdwara was retired Oak Creek Police officer Brian Murphy, who was shot 15 times before the shooter was brought down. — PTI