[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 138 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2192-E2193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 GAS STATION BURNED OUTSIDE RICHMOND; CRIME MUST BE PROMPTLY AND FULLY 
                               PROSECUTED

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 7, 2004

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I was disturbed to learn that on November 25, 
a gasoline station outside Richmond, Virginia was burned. It was owned 
by two Sikh brothers. From the graffiti that appeared on the charred 
remains, it appears that due to their turbans, the person who committed 
this horrible crime thought they were Muslims affiliated with Osama bin 
Laden.
  It is important to note that whoever the victims of this brutal crime 
were, it is a terrible act that must be fully and quickly prosecuted. 
Blaming all Muslims for the terrorist acts of a few is unfair, bigoted, 
and intolerant. But it is interesting that the victims of this crime 
were not even members of the targeted group.
  Sikhism is a distinct religion from any other, including Hinduism and 
Islam. It is monotheistic and believes in the equality of all, 
including equality for women. Our Sikh friends have made many 
contributions to this country as lawyers, doctors, engineers, farmers, 
computer specialists, and in many other fields. One Sikh, Dalip Singh 
Saund, was even a Member of this House from California, serving from 
1959 to 1963. He was the first South Asian to be elected to Congress.
  The President of the Council of Khalistan, Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, 
has written to the Chief of Police in Chesterfield County asking for a 
swift investigation of this incident. He received a prompt response 
from the police chief stating that the incident is being fully 
investigated and those responsible will be caught and prosecuted.
  It is unfortunate that incidents like this still occur in America. 
Three years after September 11, people are still attacking anyone they 
perceive as foreign. This must be stopped. This kind of hate crime does 
not advance America or its ideals; it only harms our national unity at 
a time when we are most in need of it.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to place Dr. Aulakh's letter into the 
Record.

[[Page E2193]]

                                         Council of Khalistan,

                                Washington, DC, November 29, 2004.
     Col. Carl R. Baker,
     Chief of Police, Chesterfield County Police Department, 
         Chesterfield, VA.
       Dear Chief Baker: As you know, on November 24, a gas 
     station owned by Sarabjit Singh and Sukhjinder Singh, two 
     Sikhs, was set on fire. Graffiti, including ``Go back to Bin 
     Laden,'' ``F*** Arab gas,'' and ``Never Again Indian Monkey 
     N*****,'' was sprayed on a dumpster behind the charred 
     station.
       This is clearly a hate crime and it is unacceptable. I urge 
     you to prosecute this crime to the fullest possible extent. 
     Do not let the people who perpetrated this crime think they 
     can get away with it.
       This would be an unacceptable crime if the owners of the 
     stations were Muslims, as the perpetrators apparently thought 
     they were, or members of any other group. But they are not. 
     They are Sikhs. Sikhism is an independent, monotheistic, 
     revealed religion that believes in the equality of all 
     people, including gender equality. It is not part of either 
     Islam or Hinduism. The perpetrator of this crime didn't even 
     hit the target he intended to hit!
       Sikhs are religiously, culturally, and linguistically 
     distinct from any other people in the world. The Sikh Nation 
     has declared its independence from India and is currently 
     under Indian occupation. Sikhs are working to free our 
     homeland, Khalistan.
       The incident at the gas station is a setback for the 
     American ideal of freedom for all people and those 
     responsible must be fully and swiftly punished to protect 
     these Sikh businessmen and protect the system of freedom 
     under law.
       I urge you to take all appropriate action to bring the 
     criminals to justice.
           Sincerely,
                                          Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,
     President.

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