SALDEF Responds to 2023 Hate Crime Statistics Release
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released their national report on hate crimes earlier this week. There were 156 anti-Sikh hate crimes documented in 2023.
“We continue to see Sikhs as one of the top three most targeted religious groups in the country,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, SALDEF Executive Director. “We are proud that the Sikh American community is willing to come forward with these incidents and to advocate for constructive change. Unfortunately, we know these numbers do not account for the true scope of hate around the country. Law enforcement agencies continue to under- and not- report the number of hate crimes in their regions.”
Documented hate crimes against the Sikh American community continue to be among the most reported categories since 2015, when the anti-Sikh category was first included in the FBI’s hate crimes report. The number of anti-Sikh hate crimes reported decreased from 2022, while the overall number of hate crimes increased.
SALDEF continues to urge Congress, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies around the country to take specific action to combat hate and increase resources for victims and community. The organization submitted recommendations to the Senate Judiciary Committee as a part of their hearing, “A Threat to Justice Everywhere: Stemming the Tide of Hate Crimes in America”.
If you are a victim of an act of hate or bias, after you have reached out to law enforcement and are in a safe place, we encourage you to share your experience with SALDEF. You can find more resources on how to respond to acts of hate, including from a community health perspective, on our Resources page.