PRESS RELEASE (Sterling Heights, MI, 2/9/2012) — Tomorrow, the Sikh American community of the Greater Detroit area will be holding a press conference at the location of a vandalized Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) with a collection of interfaith and community leaders. In the early morning of February 6, the Gurdwara site in Sterling Heights, which is currently under construction, was found to have been vandalized with graffiti including vulgar language, racial epithets, what appears to be a cross, a large drawing of a gun, and references to the attacks of September 11th. This press conference is to bring attention to the challenges which are facing the community and also send a message to the perpetrators that hate cannot be tolerated. SEE MORE: Picture of Vandalized Gurdwara READ MORE: Sikh House of Worship Vandalized (Detroit Free Press) “Attacks and vandalism against any of the nation’s houses of worship must be condemned by all Americans. This type of crime strikes at the very foundation of religious tolerance, the principle upon which this country was built,” said SALDEF Associate Executive Director Jasjit Singh. “We call upon local and federal law enforcement agencies to rightfully classify this incident as a hate crime and bring the perpetrators to justice to show that hate and violence are not tolerated in our society.” When: Friday, February 10 at 3pm EST Where: 33340 Dequindre road, Sterling Heights, MI 48310 14 mile and Dequindre (north of 14 and east side of Dequindre) What: Press conference to stand against intolerance and in unity with other faith leaders Who: Attendees will include interfaith groups, police officials, representatives from congressional offices According to a local community leader, Jasvir Singh, “This was a shameful and sad act of ignorance by someone who clearly does not know who we are and what we stand for. We invite everyone, including the perpetrators of this crime, to visit our Gurdwara to understand the message of unity and peace which we live by. Hate and intolerance have no place in this discourse and that is why we will be joined by other faith leaders in solidarity affirming this message against all hate, regardless of its target.”
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