FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Contact: media@saldef.org
SALDEF Responds to 2024 FBI Hate Crimes Data Release
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released their national report on hate crimes, indicating 143 anti-Sikh hate crimes documented in calendar year 2024. We continue to see Sikhs as one of the top three most targeted religious groups in the country, behind the Jewish and Muslim communities.
Unfortunately, we know that these numbers do not account for the true scope of hate around the country. Law enforcement agencies continue to under-report, or sometimes fail to report the number of hate crimes in their region. Since agencies often fail to report to the FBI, many victims develop a lack of trust in law enforcement, which causes individuals to often not report their hate crimes, perpetuating a cycle of underreporting.
“Anti-Sikh hate remains prevalent, although this is not always reflected most accurately in the data,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of SALDEF. “SALDEF continues to push for data collection approaches that ensure that our community is heard, supported, and empowered to come forward.”
We continue to push Congress, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies to combat hate and provide our community with resources. SALDEF urges Congress to pass the Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act (IRPHA). Passage of the IRPHA will support localities in reporting credible and accurate data, which is critical for our community to access.
If you are a victim of an act of hate or bias, we encourage you to share your experience with SALDEF. You can find more resources on how to respond to acts of hate here.