(SACRAMENTO, CA, 01/13/2020) – The Sacramento Valley office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) today condemned neo-Nazi “white power” vandalism targeting a Sikh center in Orangevale and expressed solidarity with the local and national Sikh community.
“White power” and a Nazi swastika were sprayed on a sign outside the Guru Maneyo Granth Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Center in Orangevale between Sunday night and Monday morning.
Sunday had been the center’s grand opening.
In a statement, CAIR-Sacramento Valley/Central California (CAIR-SV/CC) Executive Director Basim Elkarra said:
“We condemn this hateful act of vandalism and stand with our Sikh brothers and sisters. We must all stand up against hate in our communities. We are here to support the Sikh community and encourage any witnesses to come forward with information about this hate attack on a house of worship.”
Earlier today, CAIR’s national headquarters in Washington, D.C., said a tweet by President Trump of an Islamophobic image mocking Islam and Muslims will further endanger members of the American Muslim and Sikh communities.
CAIR noted that Sikh men who wear beards and turbans as part of their faith are often targeted by bigots who mistake them for Muslims.
Elkarra said in a statement about the Trump retweet:
“With one retweet of a bigoted, doctored photo, Trump has put entire communities at risk nationwide. Muslims and Sikhs are already among the top three religious groups – along with the Jewish community – targeted in U.S. hate incidents. It is unacceptable for the nation’s top government official to espouse bigotry and hatred. We need to come together and say, ‘Enough is enough!'”
Elkarra urged community members to report any bias incidents to law enforcement and to CAIR-SV/CC’s Civil Rights Department at 916-441-6269 or by filing a report online.
CAIR-SV/CC is an office of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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CONTACT: CAIR-SV/CC Communications Manager Kalin Kipling-Mojaddedi, 916-441-6269 or kkipling@cair.com
