WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 /U.S. Newswire/ — “We will not allow the brutal attacks of September 11 to divide our nation with hate and bigotry,” was the message delivered at a lunchtime rally at The National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism in an event organized by a small grassroots group of South Asian and Asian Pacific American men and women. Following a moment of silence in respect for the victims of last week’s attack, Amber Khan addressed the rally, delivering a message of sorrow and solidarity. “We stand here together because we will not allow the perpetrators of violence to hijack our trust and faith in each other, we will not allow them to hijack our commitment to the principles and values that make our nation, a land of immigrants strong — tolerance for difference, belief in the inalienable human dignity and worth of each person, passion for creating a more justice society, and an unwavering commitment to liberty and freedom,” said Amber Khan, a Muslim activist of South Asian descent from Montgomery County, Md. More than 200 diverse community leaders, federal employees, grassroots activists, veterans and other concerned Americans stood shoulder to shoulder to call for unity in this time of great sorrow and to not allow bigotry and hate to tear the fabric of our society. The crowd, reflecting the diversity of America, included Asian Americans, Arab Americans, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, African Americans, South Asians, Christian leaders and many others. Invoking the lessons of history from World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Karen Narasaki, executive director of the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium and whose parents were interned, spoke passionately about the need for us to learn from history. “Standing here today, while we grieve the terrible loss of life and the awful toll on the families of the victims of Tuesday’s terrorist attacks, let us take to heart the lessons of World War II when my parents and hundreds of other Japanese American families were herded behind barbed wire simply because they happened to look like the enemy,” said Narasaki. Sharing stories of fear and the isolation experienced by the Muslim, Arab and Sikh communities, Sharifa Al-Khateeb of the North American Council for Muslim Women, James Zogby of the Arab American Institute and Tejpal Singh Chawla expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support by the larger community and urged fellow Americans to remain united and vigilant against ethnic scapegoating by speaking out against all forms of bigotry. This theme was echoed by all speakers. “In the wake of the tragedy that occurred last week, I urge you — community leaders, parents, teachers, the media and our elected officials — to send the message that as Americans, we cannot and should not afford to condone or tolerate any incidence of discrimination or bias against anyone. Such acts go against the grain of the ideals of freedom and equality on which our country thrives and threaten our civil and human rights as Americans,” said Deepa Iyer, board member of the South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow. The event concluded with the powerful image of Japanese American and Filipino American Veterans of World War II leading the rally in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. For press statements from the event see contact information above. Organizations represented at today’s event included: — American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) — American Humanist Association — American Muslim Council (AMC) — Arab American Institute (AAI) — Asian American Student Association, University of Maryland, College Park — Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum — Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies — Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) — Asian/Pacific Islander-Domestic Violence Resource Project (A/PI-DVRP) — Bharti Association of Montgomery County Maryland — Bridge 2050 — Coordinating Council of American Muslim Organizations — Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) — Democratic National Committee — Hmong National Development, Inc. (HND) — Human Rights Campaign — Indian American Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) — Iranian Student Association, U of MD, College Park — Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) — Japanese American Veterans Association — Korean American Coalition (KAC) — Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) — NAACP — National Asian Pacific American Bar Association — National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium (NAPALC), — National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum — National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development — National Council of Asian Pacific Americans — National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) — National Japanese American Memorial Foundation — Network of South Asian Professionals — North American Council for Muslim Women (NACMW) — Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) — People For the American Way — Project IMPACT — Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART) — South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow (SAALT) — South Asian Bar Association (SABA) — South Asian Public Health Association (SAPHA) — Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) — The Interfaith Alliance (TIA) — United Jain and Hindu Temple Association of Metro Washington — White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders — Young Muslim Professional Women, Inc.
200 Call for Solidarity, End to Hate-Motivated Violence
Germantown, MD – The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national Sikh American civil rights advocacy group, rallied with South Asian, Muslim and Arab Americans near the capitol at the Japanese War Memorial yesterday, calling for Americans to stop victimizing minorities who resemble the terrorists who committed the vicious assaults on America. Tejpal Singh Chawla, the SMART speaker at the event, briefly recounted the violent attacks against Sikh Americans since Tuesday’s attacks. “A turban does not signify a terrorist,” Chawla said during his remarks alongside speaks from the Arab American Institute and the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans. Many of the speakers remarked on the double attack that is affecting Sikh, Muslim, Arab and South Asian Americans, first being attacked by outside terrorists as Americans, and then being attacked from within by ignorant Americans. Speakers also commented that many people are currently afraid to speak their native languages in public, wear traditional clothing, or even leave their homes in fear of assaults or harassment. On the same day as the event, a young Sikh man from Maryland was shot at after from a passing car on the highway.There have been approximately upwards of 200 hate crimes against Sikhs reported in the United States. SMART Executive Director, Manjit Singh, commented after the press conference yesterday, “We hope that this new positive media attention will begin to lessen the violent attacks against our community, so that we can begin to focus all of our efforts on helping our country after this tragedy.
The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a Washington, DC-based Sikh civil rights advocacy group is saddened to report the murder of a Sikh American in a racially motivated attack- the first known death in the racist backlash since the horrible terrorist attack on our nation last Tuesday. Balbir Singh Sodhi, 49, was killed Saturday in Mesa, Arizona when a gunman in a pick-up truck drove into the service station that he ran, and fired three shots at him. The assailant then drove on to another service station where a Lebanese American was working and to a house, firing several shots, but injuring no one else. Shockingly, sergeant Mike Goulet of the Mesa Police said the murder was not being considered a racist crime, and that the police did not yet have a motive. This flies in the face of the evidence of the several hundred racially- motivated hate crimes against Muslim, Arab, South Asian, and Sikh Americans in the days since the terrorist attack on America. Further substantiating the racist nature of the attack were comments by Mr. Sodhi’s brother and the owner of the gas station where the second shooting occurred. Both said that people had launched verbal epithets at both stations since Tuesday’s terrorist attacks. Furthermore, no robbery was attempted after the shooting. Neighbor Carmen Antolin also told media about the verbal assaults Mr. Sodhi had endured. We hope that the police will quickly apprehend the murderer and realize the racially-motivated nature of the attack. Sikh Americans, who have made the United States their home for over one hundred years, stand united with their fellow Americans in condemning the horrible terrorist attacks on our nation. We join all Americans in praying for the victims and their families, and support our government’s efforts to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice. However, at this time of national tragedy, we must demonstrate the strength of our national character. The United States prides itself on its commitment to the freedom, justice, equality, and respect for every individual. But in the aftermath of the attacks, our beloved nation has seen widespread hate crimes targeted at Americans of various racial and religious minorities. No one should ever be attacked or discriminated against due to appearance or religious affiliation. Sikh Americans condemn and are deeply disturbed by such senseless violence, and stand in solidarity with all victims of these hate crimes. We have to unite as a nation! We must not succumb to the temptation to strike back at those who perpetrated these heinous acts by venting our anger on innocent Americans. It is unconscionable and un-American to assign collective blame to any ethnic or religious community for the misdirected actions of a few madmen. Fanaticism must not be met with further fanaticism. The terrorist attack was aimed at all Americans, without exception. The Arab and Muslim American communities share every bit of the heartache and anguish that all Americans have been enduring- a suffering magnified by the fear many now feel from their fellow Americans, due to the epidemic of reprehensible racist attacks. We must be careful not to let the emotions of the moment turn into racist hysteria against a particular group of people, as Americans learned from our treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II. We must learn from our past mistakes. Sikh Americans have been at particular risk of racial harassment and attack. Because of their turbans and beards, they physically resemble the men publicized by the media as being suspects in the terrorist attacks. Due to this outward resemblance, Sikh Americans have endured over 150 documented hate crimes in the five days following the attacks. The hate crimes committed against South Asian, Muslim, and Arab Americans add scores to this already sickening total. In the past few days, Sikh Americans have suffered attacks on their bodies, businesses, gurdwaras (sacred sites of congregational prayer), homes, and peace of mind. They have been verbally abused, threatened, and attacked with weapons like guns, knives, and baseball bats. Many Sikhs are afraid to leave their home. This situation cannot continue, for then the terrorists will have truly won. The Sikh American community wants to issue a heartfelt thanks to the many fellow Americans who have gone out of their way to express their concern and regret for these acts of violence. Your words and gestures have been comforting in this extremely difficult time. In accord with their responsibilities to all Americans, law enforcement officials and the media must take effective, pro-active steps to ensure that this spate of hate crimes is curtailed. We need political leaders and police officers to state publicly and emphatically that perpetrators of such crimes will be prosecuted vigorously. Throughout the nation, Sikh Americans are joining their fellow citizens in rebuilding America by donating blood and other resources to the relief effort. The time has come for ALL Americans to join hands, as one nation, and come together to support each other in our time of need. While the people work to heal, the authorities must do their job as well, to protect the innocent members of our society from the racist attacks currently plaguing our nation.
George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Bush: The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a Sikh American civil rights advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., would like to applaud your remarks condemning attacks against American Muslims, Arab- Americans, and those who may appear to look like Arab Americans, in the wake of Tuesday’s horrific and cruel terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. Sikhs, who also wear turbans and have uncut beards, have been victims of violent assaults and threats. A sixty-six year-old Sikh man was attacked with baseball bats and left unconscious in Queens. Our temples and businesses have also been the target of violent attacks. In addition, the first death as a result of the racist backlash against Americans in the aftermath of the horrific terrorist attacks was a Sikh man in Arizona who was killed on Saturday, September 15. As Sikh Americans, we are saddened by the tremendous loss of life and threat to freedom that these terrorist acts have caused. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims and our fellow Americans who have been affected by this tragedy. SMART hopes the U.S. government is able to swiftly bring to justice those who were responsible for these atrocities. Sikhism is a monotheistic religion with origins in northwestern India. Sikhs have been in the United States for over 100 years and now number close to 400,000. Sikhs all over America have joined their neighbors in grieving for those lost and in assisting the recovery effort. Our community is ready to serve our country, the United States, in any way possible. We will be happy to assist law enforcement authorities in any way we can, should we be called upon to do so. SMART believes that your remarks condemning attacks against our community and others will help reinstate a tone of tolerance in our society. We hope you can repeat this theme in future addresses to the nation to make sure that the anger that is rising against the terrorists who have attacked does not get tragically turned against innocent fellow Americans. Our prayers are with you as you strike back against America’s enemies abroad and endeavor to protect the lives and freedoms of all Americans at home. Sincerely, Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force