SMART Collaborating with Local, State, Federal Authorities Phoenix, AZ—Responding to violent crimes in the Phoenix metropolitan area, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national civil rights organization, is collaborating with area residents to organize a community forum with public officials to identify and respond to hate crimes. SMART is encouraging the Phoenix-area Sikh community to attend the event this Wednesday evening at the Cholla public library (details below). Since the attacks of 9/11, the Sikh community in Phoenix has been particularly affected by violent crimes, including the murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi on September 15, 2001 and the shooting of Avtar Singh Chiera on May 19, 2003. The Phoenix-area Sikh community also experienced the murder of convenience store clerk Sukhvir Singh two weeks ago in Tempe; however, this latest incident has not been characterized as bias-motivated. The community forum, “Combating Hate Crimes,” will include representatives from the Phoenix Police Department, the Arizona Sheriff’s office, and federal law enforcement officials. Local, state, and federal elected officials and their representatives will also be present to discuss how they can better address community concerns and maximize resources to battle hate crimes. Confirmed participants include members of the Sikh, South Asian, Arab, Muslim, Jewish and other communities. The forum is being organized in collaboration with local residents, community leaders and national organizations.
