American Sikh Caucus Calls on FBI to Track Hate Crimes Targeting Sikhs
WASHINGTON, DC, USA (May 21, 2013)–Today, in its first official action since being formed by Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) and Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27) last month, the American Sikh Congressional Caucus sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice calling for the inclusion of an anti-Sikh hate crime category on the Hate Crime Incident Report (Form I-699). The letter, which was signed by 23 Members of Congress, follows a prolonged string of attacks against the Sikh community, including the shooting at a Gurdwara last August that claimed six innocent lives, and the brutal beating of an elderly Sikh man in
“With thousands of Sikhs living in the Central Valley, the recent attack in
“In the face of continued violence targeting American Sikhs across the country, we must act to ensure the safety and well-being of this community,” said Rep. Chu. “The common thread between attacks like those in
Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, many in the Sikh community have seen an increase in hate crimes and bias-based bullying because of their religion. According to Sikh Coalition surveys, approximately 10 percent of Sikhs in
According to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, rates of bullying against Sikh children “range from roughly half to over three-quarters.” Recent Sikh Coalition research suggests that 67 percent of devout Sikh students in
Including an anti-Sikh category is an important step in confronting violent hate crimes and increasing public awareness about these crimes. It will add to efforts by Rep. Joe Crowley and the over 100 other members who have pushed for the FBI to collect these statistics. This will help law enforcement officers in every locality to do all they can to prevent violence against the Sikh community.
The American Sikh Congressional Caucus was formed by Representatives Chu and Valadao to provide a voice for the Sikh community in
• Military discrimination preventing American Sikhs from enlisting due to restrictive appearance regulations that ban turbans
• Violence against American Sikhs that has increased in the wake of theSeptember 11th terrorist attacks in 2001
• Bullying being experienced by as many as three in every four Sikh boys
• Racial profiling
• Employment discrimination
Congressman David G. Valadao represents the 21st Congressional District, which includes Kings County and portions of Fresno, Tulare, and Kern counties.