We Must Do More to Lift Up America’s Rich Cultural and Religious Diversity

Anisha Singh writes that as Sikh communities grow, we must do more to lift up America's rich cultural and religious diversity.

Last week, Sikh American Inderjit Singh Mukker was viciously attacked in his Chicago suburb after the assailant yelled, “Terrorist, go back to your country, Bin Laden!” The assailant reached into his car and repeatedly punched him in the face, knocking him out. Mukker bled profusely and suffered a fractured cheekbone.

Unfortunately, Mukker’s story is not unique. Following the horrific and unthinkable attacks on September 11, 2001, Sikhs and Muslims were the victims in nearly five percent of all hate crimes reported that year–a seventeen-fold increase over the prior year. Fourteen years later, Sikhs Americans continue to face violent attacks just because of their appearance.

The above excerpt was originally published in The Huffington Post. Click here to view the full article.

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