Suspect Apprehended in Gurdwara Vandalism, Break-in

Teenager in Spokane, WA Faces Possible Hate Crime Charge Washington, DC – Following an incident of vandalism and a break-in this past weekend at a Spokane, WA Gurdwara, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), the oldest national Sikh American civil rights advocacy group, has learned that a teenager has been arrested in connection with the crime. On April 22, SMART learned about the weekend break-in involving racist graffiti spray-painted on the gurdwara’s walls and the theft of an undisclosed amount of money and other materials. SMART contacted law enforcement authorities as soon as it learned about the incident, including local police, the Department of Justice, and the FBI. These officials assured a thorough investigation, and the suspect was booked into juvenile detention on suspicion of second-degree burglary and faces a possible hate crime charge. There has been an outpouring of support from the local community which denounced the crime and has come out in support of the Spokane Sikh community. Students at the Baxter Center School located near the gurdwara helped clean and repair the gurdwara. Neighbors tipped off police detectives leading to the teenager’s arrest who lives not far from the gurdwara. On behalf of the Sikh community, SMART thanks the Spokane community, the students and employees of Baxter Center School for their support and assistance.

Germantown, MD — The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national civil rights advocacy group, encourages all Sikh Americans to publicize Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Gurpurb on November 30, 2001, with their local media outlets and to educate local communities about Sikhism. On Friday, November 30, Sikh Americans across the nation will be gathering in local Gurdwaras or at other events to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Gurpurb. This is an excellent opportunity to educate your neighbors, schools, and friends about Sikhism and the importantance of this day for Sikh Americans. SMART also encourages Sikhs to contact their local media outlets and encourage them to write stories about this day and Sikhism. SMART recommends community members to submit the below provided brief paragraph explaining the Gurpurb event along with a deXion about Guru Nanak to their local news paper’s calendar of religious events: “On Friday, November 30, 2001, the Sikh Community of XXXX [REPLACE XXXX WITH YOUR CITY’S NAME] will celebrate the birthday of Guru Nanak, the founder and the first of ten Gurus (divinely inspired prophet-teachers) of the Sikh religion. The three basic tenets of Sikhism, as declared by Guru Nanak, are: (1) earn your livelihood with honesty, (2) constantly remember God through devotion and activism and (3) share your earnings with the needy. The Guru, who was exceedingly tolerant of other faiths, embraced the entire humanity as the children of one God.” After September 11, 2001, many people have ignorantly mistaken Sikhs for Muslims, Arab Americans or the terrorists associated with the attacks on New York and Washington. This is one way for Sikh Americans to educate their communities about themselves and Sikhism. SMART also encourages Sikh Americans to distribute information about Sikhism at their local Gurdwaras, schools, businesses and workplaces.