Cook County - 3/22/2015: A recent video showing classmates taunting a Sikh student on a Georgia school bus -- one of them calling the student a "terrorist" -- and the 2012 shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin that left six dead have highlighted the problem of hate crimes against the Sikh community.
On Sunday, Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez reached out to address the problem by visiting the Sikh Religious Society of Chicago in Palatine.
Before the congregation assembled at the society's Gurdwara Sahib (Sikh place of worship), Alvarez told members she will seek the community's input for her recently formed Hate Crimes Advisory and Prosecution Council.
"I also understand that the issue of hate crimes is a significant concern to your community and I want to emphasize my commitment to combating this issue as your state's attorney," she said.
Alvarez announced that she has named one of her assistant state's attorneys, a member of the Sikh community, to the council. Amrith Aakre, who handles the office's diversion programs and trains law enforcement about the Sikh community, is familiar with the Gurdwara Sahib, having attended the temple while growing up in West suburban Wayne.
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Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez visited with religious leaders at the Gurudawara Sikh Religious Society Sunday in Palatine. Alvarez addressed the issues of hate crimes, bullying and mistaken identity that have plagued the Sikh community.
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| Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez addresses the congregation at the Gurudawara Sikh Religious Society Sunday in Palatine. Alvarez pledged that the Sikh community would have a significant role in her office's Hate Crimes Advisory and Prosecution Council. Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer |
Alvarez has also named Aakre's father, Rajinder Singh Mago, who handles community outreach and public relations for the society, to her Asian American Advisory Council.
She said the chief focus on the Hate Crimes Council will be creating and maintaining proactive partnerships with communities typically targeted in hate crimes.
"My goal is to reinvigorate our efforts, not only in prosecuting hate crimes when we become aware of them, but also in bringing together important voices to develop a community-based plan that works to raise awareness about hate crimes and also strives to prevent them," she added.
Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world, with 23 million followers. For comparison, Judaism is the sixth largest, with 15 million.
Aakre said Sikhs promote equality and, at its founding, was committed to abolishing the Indian caste system. One of the marks of the faith is the wearing of the turban, which has become a target for religious intolerance.
"There has been a significant amount of negative media post 9/11, and there is still that perception that many turban wearing individuals in the U.S. are Muslims, Middle Easterners somehow connected to terrorism," Aakre said. "We know that none of these things are true, but that misperception has led to the significant number of incidents and the rise of hate crimes and bullying within in the United States."
Statistics from the Sikh Coalition show that more than two-thirds of Sikh students are victims of bullying, she said.
Aakre's brother, Satnaam Singh Mago, spoke of his own experiences as a child being bullied and the conflicts he faced growing up.
"You go to school and you want to be American. You're at home (and) there is so much pressure. You're trying to be Indian. You're trying to balance two lives," he said.
"The suicide rate is actually comparable in the Sikh community (to) the gay community," he added. "The misinformation that comes with the turban, with the Sikh community and all that is costing us -- our boys, our girls -- so much in our community. These stakes really are high for us."
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Related Article:
Sikh community sees increase in hate crimes
http://abc7chicago.com/religion/sikh-community-sees-increase-in-hate-crimes/568689/
PALATINE, Ill. (WLS) -- Sunday, March 22, 2015: Efforts to stop hate crimes and bullying within the Sikh community were discussed Sunday in northwest suburban Palatine.
Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez addressed the congregation of Sikh Gurdwara Community Center.
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| Efforts to stop hate crimes and bullying within the Sikh community were discussed Sunday in northwest suburban Palatine. |
Alvarez says her office is working to educate the community and local law enforcement offices about the Sikh community, which is often plagued by hate crimes.
"We've seen an increase of hate crimes in Europe and so that makes us kind of have a concern as to what is going to happen here," she said. "The Sihks suffered with the shooting in up in Wisconsin several years ago, so we're always worried that something like that may happened here so we want to be ready for it."
The Sikh Religious Society in Palatine gave a presentation to educate the public on the Sikh community, which has recently experienced an increase in hate crimes and bullying.
(Copyright ©2015 WLS-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Also writes Rajinder Singh Mago, one of our regular subscribers, to SikhNet:
Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez Visits Sikh Gurudwara in Palatine Illinois to Address Hate Crimes against Sikh Community
Palatine, IL: It was a Red Letter Day for the members of Sikh Religious Society, Palatine
Illinois, a Northwest suburb of Chicago, as Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez visited the Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) on Sunday March 22, to showcase her initiative “Hate Crimes Advisory and Prosecutions Council.” The council will advise her to take preventive measures to stop hate crimes in her jurisdiction. The Sikh community will have a voice in the council.
Mrs. Alvarez was greeted by the society president Dr. Jasbir Kaur Saluja, community leaders and congregation members. The purpose of her visit was to build relationships and develop partnerships with the Sikh community plagued with hate crimes.
In a press conference while meeting with the Gurdwara board and community leaders, packed with mainstream major media reporters and cameras, she and her associates were given an educational presentation “Who Are the Sikhs?” by Amrith Kaur Aakre highlighting the salient features of Sikh Religion, with emphasis on equality of mankind. Through the presentation, valuable bits of information were shared such as the fact that post 9/11, Sikhs bore the blunt of bullying and hate crimes. Efforts to stop hate crimes and bullying within the Sikh community were discussed.
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| Georgia middle school student Harsukh Singh filmed his classmates calling him names in a YouTube video that has received more than 488,000 views. YouTube |
Mr. Kuldip Singh Makker said, “The 12 year old boy in the video is actually my grandnephew. He came home crying many times saying that his classmates mocked him daily.” Makker added that, “all this is due to intolerance and misinformation.” Mr. Makker suggested educating the youth at an early age about diversity and other cultures around us including Sikhs as part of the curriculum.
Sue Walton, an elementary school teacher from neighboring Rolling Meadows said, “By bringing this into the curriculum of school, the age-old debate of the separation of church and state is put squarely in the picture.”
Satnaam Singh Mago responded, “It’s the Judeo Christian mindset that is hesitant of teaching other cultures.” He addressed this as the reason why people become misinformed and react in ways we see today. He brought up the Boston Bomber story and how the media hastened to broadcast a picture of a Sikh man labeled on the screen as terrorist, who had been mistakenly arrested in connection to the crime at first, prior to nabbing the actual perpetrators.
Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez addressed the congregation of Sikh Gurdwara Community Center. Alvarez said that her office is working to educate the community and local law enforcement offices about the Sikh community, which is often plagued by hate crimes.
"We've seen an increase of hate crimes in Europe and so that makes us kind of have a concern as to what is going to happen here," she said. "The Sikhs suffered with the shooting in Wisconsin in 2012, so we're always worried that something like that may happen here so we want to be ready for it."
Anita Alvarez said that, “As a State’s Attorney, it is my job to reinvigorate efforts to raise awareness. Hate crimes go unreported and have a ripple effect on the entire community.”
To this effect she announced that she has named Amrith Kaur Aakre one of her Assistant State's Attorneys, who handles the office's diversion programs and trains law enforcement about the Sikh community, is familiar with the Gurdwara Sahib, having attended it while growing up in West suburban Wayne, to the Hate Crimes Advisory and Prosecutions Council.
She said the chief focus on the Hate Crimes Council will be creating and maintaining proactive partnerships with communities typically targeted in hate crimes.
The Sikh Community was gratified to hear her mission when she said, “"My goal is not only in prosecuting hate crimes when we become aware of them, but also in bringing together important voices to develop a community-based plan that works to raise awareness about hate crimes and also strives to prevent them."
Mrs. Alvarez stated that, “The rate of reporting of these hate crimes has lessened despite the fact that the FBI tracks these crimes. People do not report because they may be too embarrassed. It’s the responsibility of the council to help these people see that they are not alone.”
She also named Rajinder Singh Mago, a Sikh American community outreach and public relations activist, to her Asian American Advisory Council.
"I also understand that the issue of hate crimes is a significant concern to your community and I want to emphasize my commitment to combating this issue as your state's attorney," said Alvarez.
"The Sikh congregation, felt that their voices are being heard as some concrete steps are taken and ensuing plans to tackle hate crimes against them are laid out by the County’s highest legal authority. Hopefully, the menace of hate crime will be uprooted from the society so we all can preserve the delicate fabric of American togetherness," remarked Dr. Hardarshan Singh Valia a Sikh from Highland Indiana visiting the Palatine Gurdwara.
Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world, with 25 million followers. For comparison, Judaism is the sixth largest, with 15 million.
Amrith Kaur Aakre said Sikhs promote equality and, at its founding, was committed to abolishing the Indian caste system. One of the marks of the faith is the wearing of the turban, which has become a target for religious intolerance.
"There has been a significant amount of negative media post 9/11, and there is still that perception that many turban wearing individuals in the U.S. are Muslims, Middle Easterners somehow connected to terrorism," Aakre said. "We know that none of these things are true, but that misperception has led to the significant number of incidents and the rise of hate crimes and bullying within in the United States."
"We do not mean to say that since we are not Muslims so leave us alone and go after them, but our stand is that no innocent person no matter what faith they belong to should be the target of hatred or violence," said Rajinder Singh Mago.
Statistics from the Sikh Coalition show that more than two-thirds of Sikh students are victims of bullying, Aakre said.
Satnaam Singh Mago, a young Sikh man spoke of his own experiences as a child being bullied and the conflicts he faced growing up.
"You go to school and you want to be American. You're at home trying to be Indian, there is so much pressure trying to balance two lives," he said.
"The suicide rate is actually comparable in the Sikh community to the gay community," he added. "The misinformation that comes with the turban, with the Sikh community is costing us our boys, our girls. These stakes really are high for us," he added.
Mrs. Alvarez was given a tour of the facilities, Langar Hall (community kitchen), and children’s Sunday school.
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| Anita in Sunday School with group |
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| Anita being presented Sikh Soldiers' Poster |
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PRESS RELEASE: March 12, 2015 |
FOR INFORMATION: (312) 603-3423  (312) 603-3423 |
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STATE'S ATTORNEY ALVAREZ STEPPING UP EFFORTS TO ADDRESS HATE CRIMES State's Attorney Anita Alvarez has formed a new Hate Crimes Advisory and Prosecutions Council in an effort to raise awareness and improve response to the issue of Hate Crimes in communities throughout Cook County. A chief focus of the council will be on creating and maintaining proactive partnerships with communities typically targeted by Hate Crimes in an effort to raise awareness and engagement. Alvarez said the time is right to step up these efforts particularly as a result of international events involving acts of terrorism and the widespread use of social media and the potential for threats or intimidation on the internet. "Our goal is to reinvigorate our efforts, not only in prosecuting hate crimes when we become aware of them, but also in bringing together important voices to develop a community-based plan that works to raise awareness about hate crimes and also strives to prevent them," Alvarez said. The newly formed council includes representation from community organizations, government and law enforcement at the state and local level. Alvarez said she will ask the council to develop an actionable plan that will serve to raise public awareness of hate crimes, address barriers to hate crimes and develop effective law enforcement and community responses. Alvarez also announced that she has appointed Bennett E. Kaplan to serve as Chairman of the Council. Currently the Managing Director of Axium Consulting in Chicago, Kaplan formerly served as both an Assistant U.S. Attorney as well as a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney. Kaplan has long been committed to the prosecution of hate crimes and has served on the State's Attorney's previous Hate Crimes Prosecution Council as well as the Illinois Governor's Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes. "I am very grateful to State's Attorney Alvarez for this important appointment," Kaplan said. "At a time when there is ever-present and growing concern locally about Hate Crimes and against the backdrop of increased violent Hate Crimes in Europe, States Attorney Alvarez should be strongly commended on her leadership in re-constituting the Hate Crimes Prosecution Council." According to Alvarez, one of the greatest challenges that prosecutors face in the charging and prosecution of Hate Crimes is one of knowledge and understanding on the part of the public as well as victims. Hate Crimes often go unreported because victims fear public humiliation or retaliation if they come forward. A chief focus of the council will also be on creating and maintaining partnerships with communities typically targeted by Hate Crimes. "It is important to remember that any time a crime motivated by hatred or bias is committed, it has a ripple effect upon an entire community. Hate Crimes cause fear, anger, and confusion among our most vulnerable populations and those feelings of fear and intimidation sometimes prevent members of a particular community from enjoying the rights and liberties that everyone deserves." Members of the new council include Roey Gilad, Consul General of Israel; Joshua Rose, President of the NAACP's Chicago South Side Branch; Itedal Shalabi, of Arab American Family Services; Emily Sweet, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, Rev. Helen Sinclair, of the Rainbow Push Coalition and Lonnie Nasatir, Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League. The council also includes representatives from the U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI and the Chicago Police Department as well as governmental representation from the Mayor's Commission on Human Relations and the Cook County Department of Homeland Security. The LGBT and Hate Crimes specialists from both the State's Attorney's Office and the Chicago Police Department are also designated members of the new council. # # # | |