[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 75 (Friday, May 15, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1179-E1180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HATE CRIMES AGAINST SIKH AMERICANS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JARED POLIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 15, 2009

  Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I rise to address an issue that does not 
receive enough attention from my colleagues--the very real evil of hate 
crimes against Sikh Americans. This is a timely issue, considering our 
passage yesterday of H.R. 1913, which expands hate crimes protection to 
gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered Americans, among others. It 
is appalling that a particular group of loyal, patriotic Americans is 
targeted for attack and ridicule because of the peaceful observance of 
their faith.
  Sikh communities continue to live in fear of hate crimes. Since 
September 11, 2001, the Justice Department has investigated over 800 
incidents of biased attacks against Sikh, Arab, Muslim, and South Asian 
Americans. More than 40 of these investigations resulted in criminal 
conviction. Tragically, however, the true extent of hate crimes against 
Sikh Americans and others may be grossly underreported. Because of the 
politically sensitive nature of these attacks and the intimidation in 
many communities, persecuted minorities often do not bring this abuse 
to the attention of law enforcement. If hate crimes against Sikh 
Americans and other post-9/11 communities do not come to light, there 
is a danger that the gravity of the problem will escape the attention 
of lawmakers and law enforcement officials and continue to leave our 
communities vulnerable to bias attacks in the future. We cannot let 
this slip through the cracks!
  In the days after the attacks of September 11, 2001, there was an 
enormous backlash against the Arab and Muslim American communities. The 
Sikh community was often confused for Arabs or Muslims. Identified by 
their conspicuous items of faith, Sikhs became easy targets for anyone 
wishing to take out their rage. Hundreds of incidents of intimidation 
and violence brought national attention to the problem. As time has 
passed, however, few people take note of the isolated, but still 
insidious hate crimes that affect Sikh Americans every year.
  Just this year, in Queens, New York, a 21 year-old Sikh man was 
viciously attacked by hooligans who pelted him with racial epithets as 
they pulled on his beard and hair. He survived, but not before they had 
stabbed him in the eye, depriving him not only of his sight, but of his 
dignity. His story is too common. Last year, in New Jersey, a Sikh 
boy's turban was set on fire and scalp and hair burned while he was 
participating in school activity. His attacker was expelled, but 
charged simply with mischief. The list goes on and on. From Sikh 
Americans beaten and bloodied as they go out for a jog to cab drivers 
being murdered in cold blood, each act of violence chips away at the 
freedom of every American.

[[Page E1180]]

  If we do not stand up for one another, who will? I stand up today for 
Sikh Americans and, indeed, all those who are singled out for who they 
are or what they believe. While these attacks were based on the 
mistaken belief that Sikhs are Muslims or Arabs, attacks on any such 
group are un-American and threaten the freedom we all work to protect. 
I urge my colleagues to keep a careful eye on attacks such as these. We 
must not ignore the problem. We must confront it, call it what it is, 
and work to make sure these kinds of attacks never happen again. When 
they do, we must make these bigots famous, and punish them to the 
fullest extent of the law.

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