Sikhism

Vaisakhi in America 2002

April 8, 2002

Source: The Washington Times

On April 8, 2002, The Washington Times reported that "hundreds of Sikhs from across the [Washington D.C.] region gathered yesterday at the Lincoln Memorial to celebrate Khalsa Day, their new year festival, and many of them had one question on their minds: What do we do to be recognized as good Americans?... After September 11, Sikhs suffered tremendously in terms of racial profiling, beatings and harassments and in some instances murder... 'How do we let Americans know what our identity is so this doesn't ever happen again...

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Sikh Temple Faces Appeal of its County Approval

April 6, 2002

Source: The Appeal-Democrat

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/archive/2002/040602/040602Temple.shtml

On April 6, 2002, The Appeal-Democrat featured the article "Planning commission's approval of Sikh temple challenged" which documents that "appeals were filed... challenging the Sutter County [CA] Planning Commission's approval of a Sikh temple... The commission... voted 4-3 to allow the conversion of a home... into a temple...

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Dallas Man Convicted of Murder in "Backlash" Attack; Receives Death Sentence

April 5, 2002

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_1912000/1912221.stm

On April 5, 2002, BBC News reported "Death for 11 Sept revenge killer." The article reported that the man convicted in the murder of Sikh gas station owner Vasudev Patel received the death sentence. The article explained, "Stroman, 32, holding a small American flag, showed no reaction when the sentence was read. But as he stood up to be led out of court, he...

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Atlanta Sikh Community Looks to Sikh New Year

April 3, 2002

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

http://www.sikhs.org/khalsa.htm

On April 3, 2002, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution featured an article on the local Sikh community. "With the September attacks lingering in people's minds, Sikhs in metro Atlanta say they still get strange looks from fellow Atlantans, who often confuse them with Muslims... It is the headgear that draws the attention of strangers, said Preetinder Singh, an Acworth businessman and wholesaler of...

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Interfaith Dialogue Focuses on History

April 1, 2002

Source: The Daily Breeze

http ://w ww.dailybreeze.com/content/bln/nmbmuslim8.html

On April 1, 2002, The Daily Breeze reported on an interfaith dialgoue in Torrance, CA. The meeting was part of the Annual Religions' Founders Day sponsored by the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Association. Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh religious leaders gathered "to discuss the origins and teachings of their faiths."

Richmond Hill Gurdwara Destroyed by Fire

April 1, 2002

Source: The New York Post

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/44848.htm

On April 1, 2002, The New York Post reported "Fire-gutted Sikh Temple is Strapped." The article noted that "It will take at least two years of construction and up to $10 million before the flock of the Queens Sikh Cultural Society - which numbers in the thousands - can return to the fire-gutted temple. But the leadership of the cultural society in Richmond Hill is determined to rebuild, and...

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Sikh Parade in Livingston, California Draws 2,500 People

March 25, 2002

Source: The Modesto Bee

http://www.modbee.com/local/story/1942117p-2086286c.html

On March 25, 2002, The Modesto Bee featured the article "2,500 gather for Sikh parade." The article reported that "People of all ages marched in the parade, which drew some 2,500 people from as far away as Marysville and Bakersfield. The event marked Holla Mohalla, which Sikh people celebrate on the day after Holi, the festival of color. Holi is associated with spring, hope, new crops...

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Long Island Home to Growing Asian-American Communities

March 17, 2002

Source: The New York Times

On March 17, 2002, The New York Times reported that "Indians are the fastest-growing Asian community on Long Island, nearly doubling in population from 17,523 in 1990 to 34,333 in 2000, according to the 2000 census. Asian Indians, who include Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and Christians, are now the largest Asian group on Long Island, followed by the Chinese and the Koreans... These Asian groups have grown enough in recent years to support their own supermarkets, language schools, churches, temples and mosques on Long Island,...

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Update: Balbir Singh Sodhi Remembered

March 16, 2002

Source: The Arizona Republic

On March 16, 2002, The Arizona Republic featured the news brief "Flagpole a memorial to slain Mesa Sikh." It reported that "Family members and friends of a Sikh businessman slain in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks gathered Friday to erect an American flag at his Mesa service station, where he was shot. The flag, marking the six-month anniversary of the slaying of Balbir Singh Sodhi, 49, was erected in the lot of the Mesa Star Chevron Station, 7956 E. University Drive. Frank Roque, 42, of Mesa, is awaiting trial on murder and...

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"Backlash: When America Turned on Its Own"

March 15, 2002

Source: India-West Newspaper

http://www.ncmonline.com/content/ncm/2002/mar/0315southasian.html

On March 15, 2002, India-West Newspaper reported "South Asians Main Targets of Sept. 11 Backlash." It noted that "The first major study of bias crimes in the U.S. after Sept. 11 terrorist attacks found that 96 percent of 243 incidents of violence that were documented targeted South Asians. In more than half of the incidents, the targets were Sikhs, whose men wear...

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Richmond Hill Gurdwara Destroyed by Fire

March 11, 2002

Source: Newsday

http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/newyork/ny-nysikh112619768mar11.story

On March 11, 2002, Newsday reported, "Worshippers Gather Near Burned Temple." It noted, "Sikh men and women gathered solemnly for fellowship and muted conversation in a 118th Street house across from the ruins of their temple yesterday. Some prayed while others gathered outside under a tent and ate food prepared by congregants of the Sikh Cultural...

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Sikh Man Fired: Turban Violates NYPD Uniform Policy

March 11, 2002

Source: Newsday

On March 11, 2002, Newsday featured an article on Amric Singh Rathour, a New York Sikh, who "was fired for refusing to remove his turban and shave his beard... Under the tenets of their faith, Sikhs do not cut their hair or beards and wear turbans... Rathour and the Sikh Coalition have started a campaign to abolish the department's no-turban rule and have collected more than 3,400 signatures "online", said Prabjot Singh, director of operations for the coalition... In a statement...

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