US lawmakers hail decision on tracking hate crimes on Sikhs

Wednesday, 07/08/2013

http://www.punjabnewsline.com/punjab/majithia-urges-nris-to-come-forward-for-development-of-their-areas/84314

WASHINGTON: As the Sikh community in the US observed the first anniversary of the Wisconsin gurdwara shooting, US lawmakers have welcomed the decision of the department of justice to include crimes against the Sikh community as hate crimes.

“We know that senseless hate crimes are occurring, but we need better data on the scope of the problem. By accurately tracking hate crimes against American Sikhs and other communities at risk, we’ll be able to better devote the resources and community intervention required to stamp out hate,” Congressman John Garamendi said.

“On the first anniversary of the horrific terror attack at the Oak Creek gurdwara, we owe it to the victims to be more proactive in stopping future attacks,” he said.

On Friday, Attorney General Eric Holder had announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would move forward with the plan and begin officially identifying hate crimes perpetrated against Sikh, Hindu, Arab, Buddhist, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, and Orthodox Christian individuals.

In March, Garamendi had joined more than 100 members of the Congress in writing an FBI advisory board to express strong support for an initiative to begin tracking and quantifying hate crimes against Sikh, Hindu and Arab-Americans. Garamendi said anecdotal and non-government data indicated that the commission of hate crimes against members of these minority groups had become a deadly problem.

“The massacre at the gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and the murder of a Hindu, Senando Sen, on the New York City subway, along with attacks across the US, underscore the severity of the issue,” he said.

According to community surveys in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area, about 10% of Sikh Americans felt they had already been victims of hate crimes. The perpetrators admit often that they committed these heinous actions out of hatred, the lawmaker said.

Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera noted that the Sikh community had been a victim of hate crime and discrimination post 9/11 attacks. Bera also lauded the FBI decision with regard to the hate crimes.

“Our own community has not been immune from this violence. In 2011, two elderly Sikhs were shot while out for a walk in Elk Grove. The Oak Creek shooting is another horrific example of violence and intolerance against Sikhs,” he said.