Embrace Diversity Event to Offer Poignant Evening in Mesa


911 Archives

Mesa, Arizona is a quiet, suburban community on the edge of Phoenix. With a strong community spirit and a foundation of pride in American values, Mesa mainly kept to itself until September 15, 2001. On that fateful day, Balbir Singh Sodhi, a valued and respected member of the community, was shot and killed in a vicious hate crime while planting flowers in front of the corner gas station he owned and managed. Grieved and outraged, Balbir Singh's neighbors came out in force, creating a spontaneous, 24-hour a day vigil outside the gas station, leaving messages of condolences, and calls for tolerance and peace for the Sodhi family and the American community.

On September 14th, in honor of the first anniversary of his death, the Sodhi family, along with the City of Mesa, are holding the Balbir Singh Sodhi Embrace Diversity Memorial Event at Red Mountain Park, 7800 E. Brown Road,. "This neighborhood stood up and said no to hate and intolerance," said Guru Roop Kaur Khalsa, religious leader of the local Sikh Temple. "Having a memorial event in Mesa is the family's way of giving something back."

The evening promises to be a reflective, heart-warming experience. Gates open at 6 pm and organizers have arranged hands-on activities before the official program begins. Children will have a chance to create messages of peace for children in other countries. All attendees are welcome to participate in an inter-active art project that demonstrates the interconnectedness of all people.

The official program will begin at 7 pm, with a range of speakers and musicians. Among the presenters scheduled for the event include: Joseph Zogby, Special Council 9/11 Discrimination, Civil Rights Division, US Department of Justice, religious leaders of all faiths, government leaders, representatives from advocacy groups and Keno Hawker, Mayor of Mesa.

A central theme for the event is to embrace people of different faiths and cultures, and raise awareness about other backlash murders that have happened in the past year. Backlash murders are the invisible casualties of September 11th. Since Balbir Singh's death, there have been as many as 18 homicides that have possible or proven ties to the September 11th backlash. One of those deaths was Balbir Singh's brother, Sukhpal Singh Sodhi, who was shot and killed a little over a month ago while driving his taxi cab in San Francisco. In honoring the memory of their fallen brothers, the Sodhi family also hopes that bringing awareness about backlash crimes will help prevent further murders.

The evening program will end with a light meal made by hand by members of the Sodhi family.

Slide Show: How the Mesa Community Stood Up for Sikh Neighbor