SALDEF commends Seattle law enforcement; Urges Sikh Americans to stay vigilant Last week, a Sikh American convenience store clerk in Seattle, WA, was brutally assaulted and called a member of Al-Qaida. SALDEF commends King County prosecutors for charging the alleged assailant, Mr. Brock Stainbrook. with committing a hate crime in addition to the charges of malicious harassment and fourth-degree assault. He is currently being held by police on $150,000 bail pending trial. READ MORE: Seattle man attacked shopkeeper, calls victim a terrorist The victim was assaulted, told he was not an American, and called a terrorist because he wore a dastaar (Sikh turban) in accordance with his Sikh faith. After initially striking Mr. S (identity kept confidential), Mr. Stainbrook yelled at the unidentified Sikh American man, “You’re not even American, you’re al-Qaida. Go back to your country.” According to sources, Stainbrook has two prior convictions for two counts of fourth-degree assault and criminal trespass. Stainbrook is being held on a $150,000 bail. With anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiment on the rise within the past several months, SALDEF commends Seattle area law enforcement for investigating and recognizing this attack as a hate crime. “These crimes based on the perceived race, ethnicity, or religion of the victim cannot be tolerated. Unfortunately, the anti-Muslim bias and nativist feelings that motivates these attacks are based on a premise that runs counter to the fundamental freedoms and liberties that our nation was founded upon,” said SALDEF Managing Director Kavneet Singh in a statement to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. “All Americans must be free to practice their faith without fear, and this strong action by Seattle prosecutors will go a long way in sending a message to individuals that hate will not be tolerated.” According to recent FBI Census statistics, anti-religious and anti-race motivated crimes and incidents have made up to be the majority cause of hate crimes. To read more information about what a hate crime is, please click here. SALDEF denounces the rise in anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiment that has lead to this attack and others. SALDEF urges all Sikh Americans to immediately report any incidents of harassment, bullying or assault to SALDEF and your local authorities. If you or someone you know has been a victim of any racially motivated crime, please contact SALDEF directly toll free at 1.877.91SIKHS or via our Report an Incident Form. We all have a responsibility to ensure our freedom from harassment and discrimination.
