US House resolution for tracking hate crimes against Sikhs
August 15th, 2012 - 11:09 am ICT by IANS
Washington, Aug 15 (IANS) Seven members of the US House of Representatives have introduced a resolution condemning hate crimes against Sikh Americans and supporting the community’s demand that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) track such crimes.
The House resolution was introduced even as Senator Dianne Feinstein, the Democratic chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, circulated a letter to her colleagues in the US Senate, urging them to support Sikh hate crime tracking, the Sikh coalition said Tuesday.
The community organisation also asked supporters to send an online petition letter to members of Congress and Senators, urging them to support these important initiatives and share it with others through social media like Facebook and Twitter.
Signing this petition letter is a meaningful and important action in the wake of the Aug 5 attack on an Oak Creek, Wisconsin, gurdwara, killing six worshippers and wounding three, the Sikh Coalition said.
The House resolution is being spearheaded by Joseph Crowley, Bill Pascrell, Howard Berman, Judy Chu, Nita Lowey, Keith Ellison and Pete Stark.
Among other things, the attacks of Aug 5 attacks underscore the need for the FBI to document hate crimes against Sikhs, the community body said.
“The Sikh Coalition believes that it is impossible to understand or address a problem unless it is being accurately measured,” it said. “Together we can ensure that the FBI collects accurate data about hate crimes against our community.”
Earlier this year, Crowley led a similar effort, which garnered support from over 90 members of the House of Representatives.
- US senators call for Sikh hate crime tracking - Aug 24, 2012
- FBI asked to track anti-Sikh hate crimes - Sep 20, 2012
- US community groups seek hate crime hearings - Aug 22, 2012
- FBI urged to check hate crimes against Sikh-Americans - Apr 20, 2012
- Gurdwara shooting victims remembered at vigils - Aug 08, 2012
- India in touch with US over gurdwara shooting - Aug 06, 2012
- India in touch with US over gurudwara killing (Lead) - Aug 06, 2012
- Sikh panel guides families in coping with shooting trauma - Aug 13, 2012
- Gurdwara shooting: FBI looks for motive, India shocked (Fourth Lead) - Aug 06, 2012
- India shocked as FBI hunts for gurdwara killings' motive (Third Lead) - Aug 06, 2012
- 'Their tears would make an ocean overflow' - Aug 08, 2012
- US Sikh group highlights post-9/11 bias with video wall - Sep 03, 2011
- Top US law official calls gurdwara shooting a hate crime - Aug 11, 2012
- Sikh Americans show solidarity after gurdwara tragedy - Aug 07, 2012
- Ex-US soldier kills six in gurdwara, India outraged (Roundup) - Aug 06, 2012
Tags: bill pascrell, community organisation, democratic chair, facebook, federal bureau of investigation, gurdwara, hate crimes, howard berman, investigation fbi, joseph crowley, judy chu, keith ellison, members of the house of representatives, nita lowey, oak creek wisconsin, pete stark, petition letter, senate intelligence committee, senator dianne feinstein, us senate