Bay Area Sikhs Launch BART Ads In Oakland, SF to Remember Pogrom

November 6, 2009

Author: Lisa Fernandez

Source: San Jose Mercury News

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_13732529?nclick_check=1

A nonprofit Sikh organization launched a BART poster campaign this month in hopes that a photograph of an elderly crying woman will spur mainstream riders to learn more about the massacre of people in India 25 years ago.

The 20-poster, $10,000-campaign on BART stations in San Francisco and Oakland is spearheaded by the Fremont-based Ensaaf group, said co-director Jaskaran Kaur. Ads appeared Nov. 2, and will last a month. The campaign is in honor of the 25th anniversary of pogroms against Sikhs in India.

Kaur acknowledged that the campaign refers to a seemingly obscure period of history for most BART riders.

"I think that's why people will be interested," Kaur said. "Our goal is for someone to read the ad, do a double take and visit our Web site to get more information to learn about abuses against Sikhs and other minorities."