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WEST SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – The interaction of 9/11 was felt crossed each cross-section of America, including successful the Muslim and Sikh communities, which faced backlash pursuing the attacks.
Days earlier the Sikh Temple of Sacramento was attacked successful 2001, West Sacramento constabulary came to pass them of imaginable danger.
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“Police informed america beryllium fearful thing mightiness happen,” explained Balbir Singh Dhillon, President of the Sikh Temple of Sacramento.
The temple successful West Sacramento was targeted by a antheral who had visited the temple connected aggregate occasions earlier helium came backmost to vandalize it.
“He asked questions, who we are, wherefore that emblem was determination and wherefore the American emblem wasn’t there,” explained subordinate and nationalist relations serviceman for the temple, Darshan Mundy. “One time helium came with a pickup and said I’m going to bulldoze the emblem and the building,” Mundy said.
The antheral alternatively jumped the obstruction and defiled their excavation that held beatified h2o from India and Pakistan. The spot volition the excavation was erstwhile located, is present filled with grass.
Dhillon remembers sitting adjacent to the antheral liable who was facing hatred transgression charges. The temple alternatively spoke connected his behalf
“We are each quality beings and we shouldn’t hatred each other,” helium recalled saying to the man. “The mode helium was apologizing, I could archer helium was apologizing from the bottommost of his heart,” helium said.
Two decades later, Mundy believes it’s their enactment with the interfaith assembly successful Sacramento and the assemblage that helped span the spread from chartless to understanding.
“At that clip radical didn’t similar us; we wore the turban, we were looking similar different people, but present the radical cognize who we are,” Mundy explained.
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The temple was not the lone people successful the days and years aft the violent attacks. Hate crimes and vandalism against Muslim and Sikh communities skyrocketed.
“After 9/11, the Muslim and the Sikh assemblage fell nether siege. It was astir similar it was OK to beryllium a racist,” explained Basim Elkarra, Executive Director astatine Council connected American Islamic Relations, Sacramento Valley (CAIR-SV/CC).
CAIR, a California a civilian rights organization, has witnessed the impacts of transgression connected the assemblage adjacent affecting the younger generation.
“Some folks tried to fell their identity, they changed their names, tried to look different, conscionable truthful they wouldn’t get bullied,” said Elkarra.
Elkarra explained that portion hatred crimes person decreased implicit the years, determination are inactive concerns successful the community.
“You ever person this apprehensiveness, could it hap again. When is it going to happen? Every clip you spell to a location of worship, could determination beryllium an attack?” Elkarra explained. “Everyone successful wide remains hopeful prays for a amended aboriginal for everyone. We recognize we are each successful the aforesaid vessel and we person to engage, adjacent for folks that mightiness hatred us,” helium said.
For Dhillon, portion immoderate achy memories person faded, helium hopes the temple’s ngo is caller successful peoples’ minds.
“Love all, each quality contention is one, that is what our beatified publication says,” helium said.
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The charges against that fishy were yet dropped. Instead of punishing him, the temple wanted to amended him astir their civilization and faith.
English (US) ·