HATE CRIME COMMITTED AT THE GURU MANEYO GRANTH GURDWARA SAHIB IN ORANGEVALE, CALIFORNIA

Washington DC – The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, condemns the hate speech that defaced the Guru Maneyo Granth Gurdwara Sahib in Orangevale, California.

Early this morning when the Granthi (priest) Manjit Singh from the Guru Maneyo Granth Gurdwara Sahib stepped outside he saw “White Power” and a swastika graffitied onto the sign out front. The local police were called immediately and they took statements from the Granthi. After documenting the graffiti the police immediately painted over the hate speech. 

Dimple Kaur Bhullar from the Guru Maneyo Granth Gurdwara Sahib Sangat said, “we began services as of mid-December 2019, the weekend of January 10-12 we had our official Grand Opening with Bhai Sahib Harjinder Singh Ji Sri Nagarwale, without any problems.” She also said, “there was no negativity before this.” 

“We are seeing a rise in hate crimes committed by white supremacist groups and we condemn them all,” said SALDEF Executive Director Kiran Kaur Gill. “When we see our peaceful places of worship attacked it creates a fear among the community and we cannot stand by and allow our brothers and sisters to be afraid to gather at our houses of worship.”

SALDEF condemns these kinds of hate crimes and hopes through education and community outreach that we can one day bring an end to all hate crimes.  SALDEF thanks the local police for their swift response and action in documenting and removing this hateful speech. On behalf of the Sikh American community, SALDEF offers support to the local Sangat and the local police in both finding the perpetrator and rebuilding trust in the community.