|
South
Asians have long confronted bias and discrimination committed against our
community, from attacks by the Dotbusters in New Jersey during the 1980s to
the spike in hate crimes that occurred following 9/11.
In the weeks and months leading up to the 2008 elections, our community
witnessed an increase in xenophobic rhetoric against South Asians, Muslims,
and Sikhs, both in political discourse and among the general public. Since
the elections, SAALT has learned of violent attacks being committed against
South Asians and other communities of color, including assaults
targeting immigrants who either supported or were perceived to support
President-Elect Obama. Below are a few examples of recent violence against
South Asians and other communities of color:
- Hardwick, New Jersey -- On November 6, 2008, an incident occurred in
which Alina and Gary Grewal found a cross burned on their front lawn.
The cross was wrapped in a congratulatory banner the family had made
which read "President Obama, Victory '08".
- Carteret,
New Jersey
-- On October 30, 2008, an incident occurred in
which an elderly Sikh gentleman, Ajit Singh Chima, was punched and
kicked repeatedly in the face, suffering fractures in his jaw and near
his eyes. This occurred soon after a 10-year-old Sikh boy, Gagandeep
Singh, was attacked on October 8, 2008, by an individual who pushed
him to the ground and forcibly cut his hair.
- Staten
Island, New York -- In early November, an incident occurred in
which four white men beat a Liberian-American Muslim teenager, Ali
Kamara, near his home. The attackers jumped out of a car and assaulted
him with a baseball bat after shouting "Obama."
- Providence,
Rhode Island
-- In September 2008, an incident occurred in
which a Sikh-American man was accosted by an individual who said,
"I have a gun in my car and since you are a hajii no one will
care if I kill you. You know why the police won't do anything? Because
I got blond hair and blue eyes." As the assailant left, he
screamed, "F*** Arabs and F*** Obama."
In light of these incidents, SAALT is re-circulating a basic factsheet on hate crimes
with answers to frequently asked questions and resources for those in
need. Below are a few questions from the factsheet:
- What is a
hate crime?
- Are there
laws against hate crimes?
- What
should I do if I am a victim of a hate crime?
- What
happens if law enforcement conducts an investigation?
- What
happens if I do not have immigration status and I contact law
enforcement?
- What can
community members do to address and prevent hate crimes?
- Are there
organizations that help hate crimes victims?
SAALT and various organizations within the National Coalition of South Asian
Organizations provide services and resources for hate crimes victims,
including Counselors Helping (South)
Asian/Indians, the Sikh American Legal Defense and
Education Fund, Sikh Coalition, South Asian Health Initiative
(SAHI), South Asian Mental Health
Association of Jersey (SAMHAJ), South Asian Network, and Turning Point for Women and Families,
UNITED SIKHS. Please visit SAALT's website to learn more
about hate crimes and the South Asian community.
|
Community Alert: Hate Crimes Resources
