He grew up in Kern County. Went to school here.
Bakersfield is his town, his community. And he’s proud of it.
So when an angry stranger accosted Balmeet Singh outside a Bakersfield restaurant two Fridays ago, and allegedly threatened his life, apparently because the 30-year-old Realtor and health clinic administrator was wearing a beard and the traditional turban worn by virtually all Sikh men, the 30-year-old was at first bewildered.
Then scared.
And finally, after he had time to think about it, Singh was determined. To educate the community about Sikhism. To bring together people of all faiths to combat hatred and ignorance toward all groups. And to demand justice, not just for him, but for the community, which, he says, is the true victim.
The alleged attacker “said I was a threat to the country I grew up in, the country I was born in,” Singh told hundreds who gathered Wednesday night at the Sikh temple, known as a gurdwara, on Stine Road in southwest Bakersfield.
The event, which included several guest speakers, was called a “dialogue against hate.”
It wasn’t just the verbal assault, the threats, the intimidation and the drink Singh said the man threw in his face that shook his faith in his community. It was the stunning realization that dozens of patrons on the outdoor patio at the Habit Burger who witnessed the incident, looked away when he tried to meet their eyes.
That was the biggest shock of all.
The white male, in his late 30s or early 40s, had approached from the patio of Blaze Pizza on California Avenue. Singh was on his cell, wishing a happy birthday to his 13-year-old cousin.
“You gonna blow up this country,” Singh said the man screamed at him. “F- — you! I should f---ing kill you right now ... I am going to kill you right now.”
Eventually the man drove away in his red pickup. Singh, his beard and turban soiled and made sticky by the liquid, captured the license plate and called police.
In a conversation with a Bakersfield Police Department investigator, Singh said he was told the man was identified and questioned. The man told police he thought Singh was a Muslim — as if that would make it OK? — and admitted, Singh said, to the circumstances as Singh described them.
The man was not arrested, Singh said. The decision on whether to press charges is in the hands of the district attorney’s office.
Rob England, president of the Kern, Inyo & Mono Counties Labor Council, came Wednesday to support Singh.
“We stand in solidarity with all Sikhs and the Sikh community,” England said. “We must stand together against hate and intolerance.”
England said he has been mistaken for a man of Arabic descent, and has been harassed for it.
This is not about a single incident, he said. Much more brutal attacks have been documented against Sikhs in California and elsewhere.
“These things are happening in our communities and go largely unreported.”
Neel Sannappa, of the Young Progressive Coalition, quoted Martin Luther King Jr.
“A time comes when silence is a betrayal.”
It comes down to this, he said: “If you see something, say something.” And if you don’t feel safe doing so, call the law and shoot a video of the incident.
Deputy District Attorney David Wolf, who was recently elected to a judgeship beginning in January, said the criminal justice community must be and does stand in opposition to hate crimes and attacks based on race, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.
“Together we can fight this ignorance,” he said.
Mayoral candidate Karen Goh was there Wednesday. She spoke directly to Singh.
“I am so sorry for the wrong that was done to you,” she said. “Today I stand as a proud American — and stand with you as a proud American.”
Many others spoke as well, including Pastor David Stabenfeldt of First Congregational Church and Sister Marie Schroepfer, who spoke on behalf of Catholic Bishop Armando Ochoa of the Fresno Diocese.
Joseph “Joey” Williams, of Faith in Action, was even more pointed in his comments. Words are not enough, he said. Action is called for here. Action against the perpetrator of the alleged assault. Action in the larger community to combat ignorance and violence.
“We need justice. We need the guy who did this to be held accountable,” he argued.
Singh said he has been grateful for the outpouring of support he has received from hundreds, even thousands, in the community.
But he wanted to be clear. Had he been Muslim or Arabic, and not a Sikh man whose family immigrated from India, the assault still would have been wrong.
Had he been black or Hispanic, a member of the LGBT community, Jewish, Hindu or a member of any other group seen by some as the “other,” it would have been just as wrong.
“This is why we Sikhs have stayed away from a ‘We are not Muslim’ dialogue,” Singh said.
“It doesn’t matter who this happens to. There is no place for these attacks in our community.”
Our community, he said. Not mine. Not yours.
Ours.