Surjit Singh Malhi, the victim of a possible hate crime in the US, says the very symbol which may have triggered the assault, ironically saved his life.
“The way they were hitting me, (I thought) maybe I would die. You don't belong here.”
50-year-old Malhi, who is a resident of Stanislaus County, California, was putting up political signs for US Representative Jeff Denham, when he was attacked by two men who yelled racist slurs that “You’re not welcome here” and “Go back to your country”.
The assailants also vandalized his truck, defacing it with a similar message: "Go back to your country."
But in a positive turn of events, the tragic story turned into a compelling evidence of community support when a group of members of a CrossFit gym known to Mr Malhi showed up at his home to express their solidarity.
In an act of compassion, the group planted flowers in Mr Malhi’s yard, cleaned up the American flag that hangs outside his house and also removed the racial comments that were painted on his truck.
Members of CrossFit Gym in California outside Surjit Singh Malhi's home Source: Facebook/Turbans 4 Australia
And later, literally broke bread with the man and his family of five.
Originally from India, Mr Malhi has been living in the country for the past 35 years and considers himself “100 per cent American”. He is known amongst the local community as a social and political advocate.
In a separate case also from California, an elderly Sikh man identified as sahib Sikh was attacked by two masked assailants while he was on his routine morning walk, in what the authorities believe could also be a hate crime.
The video of the attack captured on a home owner’s security camera shows the assailants engaged in a violent verbal exchange with Mr Singh after one of them hits him so hard in the groin, that he falls back on the pavement.
Community members wiping-off racist slur from Surjit Singh Malhi's's truck Source: Facebook/Turbans 4 Australia
Two cases of hate crime targeted at Sikhs reported in a week in California Source: Twitter
The men then back off, but one of them suddenly returns, hits Mr Singh a few more times and spats before making a hasty exit.
Meanwhile, in India, the incidents have sparked concerns for the safety of the Sikh community living outside India.
Former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal has appealed to the External Affairs Ministry of India to take up the issue with the US government.
He has also urged the Indian embassies and consulates abroad to spread awareness about the Sikh beliefs to check hate crimes against the community.
There are an estimated 700,000 Sikhs in the United States, out of which roughly half live in California.
In recent years, Yuba City, a small city in the centre of the Sacramento Valley, has become a major hub for Sikhs in the state.The annual Nagar Kirtan parade in the city- a key event, draws as many as 150,000 people from around the world.
Although there are no credible figures on the number of hate crimes targeted at Sikhs in California, it has been reported that overall, at least 1093 hate crimes were reported in the state in 2017, a 17.4% increase, according to the data released by the California attorney general’s office
File shot of Sikhs celebrating Turban Day in New York Source: Facebook
