Hate-Crimes Against Sikh-Americans on a Rise
Sikh Americans suffered the deadliest act of violence against a religious minority on Aug. 5, 2012 when a white supremacist stormed a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Six Sikh Americans were killed. A Sikh American targeted expressly because of his turban was also the first fatality after 9/11 in a series of backlash crimes.
The study was overseen by Stanford University researcher and Peace Innovation Lab co-director Margarita Quihuis. It involved surveys, social science research and extensive interviews of influencers in the Sikh and civil rights community.
“Coming from the world of peace innovation we see a real path forward as a result of this research,” said Quihuis. “The bottom line is that these misperceptions are caught, not taught. Good people make associations based on imagery and messages all around them -- from the grocery store to television to the digital world. In this case the Sikh American community has an opportunity to fill those perception gaps with the truth, in a constructive way to foster peace.”
Also Read: Indian-American Pleads Guilty Of Tax Fraud
Also Read: Nina Davuluri-The First Indian Origin Beauty to Win Miss America