Politicians Express Support for Sikh American Community After New York Gurdwara Vandalized With Hate Messages
Originally published in
India West
Local community leaders, including several politicians, expressed support for the Sikh American community after vandals attacked the construction site of a gurdwara being built in New Hyde Park, New York, spray painting it with hate speech and racial slurs.
The attack occurred at some point between Aug. 2 night and Aug. 3 morning, days before the ninth anniversary of a mass shooting at the Oak Creek, Wisconsin gurdwara, when avowed neo-Nazi Wade Michael Page fatally shot six people and wounded four others during Sunday morning prayers. Page then killed himself, in the worst mass shooting the Sikh American community has experienced.
New York state Senators Kevin Thomas and Todd Kaminsky met with leaders of the Darbar Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji gurdwara Aug. 6. “(We) stand in solidarity with the Sikh community who had their Gurdwara vandalized,” said Thomas in a Facebook post.
“This act of hate and intolerance against the Sikh community here in Nassau County is heart breaking. We must always choose love over hate. Their resilient response to these attacks embody the Sikh spirit of Chardi Kala—meaning eternal optimism. We stand with our Sikh brothers and sisters,” the Indian American politician said.