SALDEF Commends Law Enforcement Response; Urges Community Vigilance 
May 8, 2013 (Washington D.C.) — On Sunday, May 5 2013, Piara Singh was brutally assaulted as he was leaving the Nanaksar Gurdwara in Southwest Fresno. The assailant attacked Mr. Singh with a steel pipe leaving him with a fractured jaw, punctured lung, and head injuries. Mr. Singh is currently convalescing in the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery READ/WATCH: Sikh man beaten with steel pipe in Fresno hate crime Yesterday, a community meeting took place at the Gurdwara and was attended by local community members as well the Fresno Chief of Police, Jerry Dyer. During the meeting, Chief Dyer provided updates on the case and explained that this crime leads to only one conclusion; “Mr. Singh was targeted because of who he was, what he was wearing, his ethnicity, his religion.” A suspect has been identified and arrested; he is being charged with attempted murder and will likely be charged with a hate crime and elder abuse. Mark Cullers, Chief of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Fresno, also commented on the incident at the meeting and indicated that the U.S. Attorney’s office was in the process of investigating the incident under the Federal hate crimes statute and would be working closely with the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office to ensure that the suspect was charged appropriately. Following comments by law enforcement, members of the Sikh community questioned Chief Dyer and Mr. Cullers, who both reassured the attendees that the incident would not be taken lightly. SALDEF will continue to remain engaged with the local community and law enforcement through our staff and local representatives, and work to ensure hate crime charges are brought against the suspect. “I look forward to working closely with you to educate citizens about the Sikh community,” said Chief Dyer to SALDEF. “Sikhs are peace loving, hard working and community minded…I promise to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Sikh community in our efforts against hate crimes.” SALDEF urges all Sikh Americans to immediately report any incidents of harassment, bullying or assault to SALDEF and your local authorities. In all emergency situations, please contact law enforcement immediately by calling 911. If you or someone you know has been a victim of any racially motivated crime, please contact SALDEF directly at 202.393.2700 or via our Report an Incident Form.
