"Shocked, Angered": Sikh Taxi Driver Reacts To His Assault At US Airport

[Premi]

"Shocked, Angered": Sikh Taxi Driver Reacts To His Assault At US Airport

According to the most recent FBI data, Sikhs remain in the top three most frequently targeted groups for religiously-motivated hate crimes and bias incidents across the US.

 

All IndiaPress Trust of IndiaUpdated: January 13, 2022 11:16 am IST

New York: 

An Indian-origin Sikh taxi driver - whose turban was knocked off and who was told "turbaned people, go back to your country" by an unidentified man in the US - says he is "shocked and angered" to be assaulted and that no one should experience such hate.

In a statement on January 3, community-based civil and human rights organisation The Sikh Coalition said that New York City resident Mr Singh was physically attacked and berated near his cab at JFK International Airport.

Mr Singh had parked his cab at the Terminal 4 taxi stand when another driver blocked his vehicle. When Mr Singh picked up a customer, he stepped out of his car to ask the other driver to move. The other driver attempted to hit Mr Singh with his own car door; he then began repeatedly punching Mr Singh in the head, chest, and arms, knocking off his turban, it said in a statement.

The other driver referred to Mr Singh as "turbaned people" and shouted at him to "go back to your country," according to the statement.

"I was shocked and angered to be assaulted for doing nothing but minding my own business. While working, no one should experience such hate. I am hopeful that the police can identify, arrest, and charge the person who attacked me so that I can move forward," the Sikh taxi driver, identified only as Mr Singh out of respect for his request for privacy, told The Sikh Coalition.

Mr Singh filed a report with the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) immediately after the incident. The Sikh Coalition said it is currently working to ensure that the report "paints an accurate picture of the attack given the language barrier during the initial conversations". The organisation's staff accompanied Mr Singh to a meeting with a detective to provide language assistance and legal support.

"We have every expectation that bias will be considered as a factor in this outrageous attack, given the evidence of what the other driver said and did to Mr Singh," said Amrith Kaur Aakre, Sikh Coalition Legal Director.

"The Sikh Coalition is appreciative of all who have stepped forward to support Mr Singh and called attention to his assault. As the investigation moves forward, we will work towards a just outcome that holds the attacker accountable for his actions, while also reiterating that the Sikh community remains an integral part of New York City," Ms Aakre said.

Navjot Pal Kaur had posted the 26-second video of the attack on January 4 on Twitter and it soon went viral.

Ms Kaur tweeted, "This video was taken by a bystander at John F Kennedy international Airport. I do not own the rights to this video. But I just wanted to highlight the fact that hatred continues to remain in our society and unfortunately I've seen Sikh cab drivers get assaulted again and again."

Simran Jeet Singh, author and Director for the Aspen Institute's Inclusive America Project, had tweeted: "Another Sikh cab driver assaulted. This one at JFK Airport in NYC. So upsetting to see. But it's crucial that we don't look away...What I am sure of is how painful it is to watch our fathers and elders get assaulted while they're just trying to live an honest life."

"For those who aren't Sikh, I can't put into words what it means to have your turban knocked off - or to see someone else's turban knocked off. It's visceral and gut-wrenching and just so disheartening to witness," Mr Singh tweeted.

India's Consulate General in New York had termed the assault on the Sikh taxi driver as "deeply disturbing" and said it had taken up the matter with the US authorities and urged them to investigate this violent incident.

The US State Department also said it was "deeply disturbed" by reports of the attack on the Sikh cab driver at JFK International Airport, captured on video.

"Our diversity makes the US stronger, & we condemn any form of hate-based violence," State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) had tweeted.

"We all have a responsibility to hold perpetrators of hate crimes accountable for their actions, no matter where such crimes occur," it added.

Mr Singh has retained the Sikh Coalition to provide free legal guidance as the investigation into his attacker moves forward.

The organisation said that out of respect for Mr Singh's "privacy (given that his turban was knocked off) and in accordance with his request that he not be publicly identified, the Sikh Coalition is not further sharing that footage at this time." It voiced concern that Sikhs in the United States continue to experience bias and hate-driven attacks on account of their visually identifiable articles of faith (including turbans) as well as perceptions about their country of origin.

 

According to the most recent FBI data, Sikhs remain in the top three most frequently targeted groups for religiously-motivated hate crimes and bias incidents nationwide.

1CommentsIn the Sikh Coalition's experience, taxi and rideshare drivers in particular are at a heightened risk of these kinds of violent attacks, it said.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/shocked-and-angered-over-assault-says-indian-origin-sikh-taxi-driver-attacked-in-us-2705355

[GurjantGnostic]

7 hours ago, Premi said:

"Shocked, Angered": Sikh Taxi Driver Reacts To His Assault At US Airport

According to the most recent FBI data, Sikhs remain in the top three most frequently targeted groups for religiously-motivated hate crimes and bias incidents across the US.

 

All IndiaPress Trust of IndiaUpdated: January 13, 2022 11:16 am IST

New York: 

An Indian-origin Sikh taxi driver - whose turban was knocked off and who was told "turbaned people, go back to your country" by an unidentified man in the US - says he is "shocked and angered" to be assaulted and that no one should experience such hate.

In a statement on January 3, community-based civil and human rights organisation The Sikh Coalition said that New York City resident Mr Singh was physically attacked and berated near his cab at JFK International Airport.

Mr Singh had parked his cab at the Terminal 4 taxi stand when another driver blocked his vehicle. When Mr Singh picked up a customer, he stepped out of his car to ask the other driver to move. The other driver attempted to hit Mr Singh with his own car door; he then began repeatedly punching Mr Singh in the head, chest, and arms, knocking off his turban, it said in a statement.

The other driver referred to Mr Singh as "turbaned people" and shouted at him to "go back to your country," according to the statement.

"I was shocked and angered to be assaulted for doing nothing but minding my own business. While working, no one should experience such hate. I am hopeful that the police can identify, arrest, and charge the person who attacked me so that I can move forward," the Sikh taxi driver, identified only as Mr Singh out of respect for his request for privacy, told The Sikh Coalition.

Mr Singh filed a report with the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) immediately after the incident. The Sikh Coalition said it is currently working to ensure that the report "paints an accurate picture of the attack given the language barrier during the initial conversations". The organisation's staff accompanied Mr Singh to a meeting with a detective to provide language assistance and legal support.

"We have every expectation that bias will be considered as a factor in this outrageous attack, given the evidence of what the other driver said and did to Mr Singh," said Amrith Kaur Aakre, Sikh Coalition Legal Director.

"The Sikh Coalition is appreciative of all who have stepped forward to support Mr Singh and called attention to his assault. As the investigation moves forward, we will work towards a just outcome that holds the attacker accountable for his actions, while also reiterating that the Sikh community remains an integral part of New York City," Ms Aakre said.

Navjot Pal Kaur had posted the 26-second video of the attack on January 4 on Twitter and it soon went viral.

Ms Kaur tweeted, "This video was taken by a bystander at John F Kennedy international Airport. I do not own the rights to this video. But I just wanted to highlight the fact that hatred continues to remain in our society and unfortunately I've seen Sikh cab drivers get assaulted again and again."

Simran Jeet Singh, author and Director for the Aspen Institute's Inclusive America Project, had tweeted: "Another Sikh cab driver assaulted. This one at JFK Airport in NYC. So upsetting to see. But it's crucial that we don't look away...What I am sure of is how painful it is to watch our fathers and elders get assaulted while they're just trying to live an honest life."

"For those who aren't Sikh, I can't put into words what it means to have your turban knocked off - or to see someone else's turban knocked off. It's visceral and gut-wrenching and just so disheartening to witness," Mr Singh tweeted.

India's Consulate General in New York had termed the assault on the Sikh taxi driver as "deeply disturbing" and said it had taken up the matter with the US authorities and urged them to investigate this violent incident.

The US State Department also said it was "deeply disturbed" by reports of the attack on the Sikh cab driver at JFK International Airport, captured on video.

"Our diversity makes the US stronger, & we condemn any form of hate-based violence," State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) had tweeted.

"We all have a responsibility to hold perpetrators of hate crimes accountable for their actions, no matter where such crimes occur," it added.

Mr Singh has retained the Sikh Coalition to provide free legal guidance as the investigation into his attacker moves forward.

The organisation said that out of respect for Mr Singh's "privacy (given that his turban was knocked off) and in accordance with his request that he not be publicly identified, the Sikh Coalition is not further sharing that footage at this time." It voiced concern that Sikhs in the United States continue to experience bias and hate-driven attacks on account of their visually identifiable articles of faith (including turbans) as well as perceptions about their country of origin.

 

According to the most recent FBI data, Sikhs remain in the top three most frequently targeted groups for religiously-motivated hate crimes and bias incidents nationwide.

1CommentsIn the Sikh Coalition's experience, taxi and rideshare drivers in particular are at a heightened risk of these kinds of violent attacks, it said.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/shocked-and-angered-over-assault-says-indian-origin-sikh-taxi-driver-attacked-in-us-2705355

We need more Parchar. It's misplaced muslim bashing, which I don't support either. Just saying is we aren't the intended target even. Be training. Be ready to ring a bell with your Kara. 

We need Shanti Ras and Bir Ras both. Sometimes I need to remember to be Shanti, but a lot of us need to be ready to change gears to Bir Ras. 

[paapiman]

2 hours ago, GurjantGnostic said:

We need more Parchar. It's misplaced muslim bashing, which I don't support either. Just saying is we aren't the intended target even. Be training. Be ready to ring a bell with your Kara. 

We need Shanti Ras and Bir Ras both. Sometimes I need to remember to be Shanti, but a lot of us need to be ready to change gears to Bir Ras. 

Can you guys carry guns in New York? The gun laws are different in different states right?

 

Bhul chuk maaf

[GurjantGnostic]

49 minutes ago, paapiman said:

Can you guys carry guns in New York? The gun laws are different in different states right?

 

Bhul chuk maaf

Within 25ft knife is faster they say. I'll look it up. Usually there's some combination of open carry and concealed carry by permit. They have to have concealed carry of some kind. 

[Premi]

deleted, error

[Premi]

ANother incident , last month in Canada

 

https://www.omnitv.ca/bc/pa/videos/sikh-uber-driver-speaks-out-after-alleged-assault/

Sikh Uber driver speaks out after alleged assault

ਪਿਛਲੇ ਦਿਨੀ  Mississauga ਵਿਚ ਇਕ Sikh uber driver ਨਾਲ ਵਾਪਰੀ ਇਕ ਘਟਨਾ ਨੇ community ਵਿਚ ਇਸ ਵਾਰਦਾਤ ਸੰਬੰਧੀ  ਚਿੰਤਾ ਵਾਧਾ ਦਿਤੀ ਹੈ । ਜ਼ਿਕਰਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਊਬਰ ਡਰਾਈਵਰ ਦੀ ਕਾਰ ਵਿਚ ਬੈਠੇ ਯਾਤਰੀ ਨਾਲ ਹੋਈ ਝੜਪ ਵਿਚ, ਯਾਤਰੀ ਵਲੋਂ ਡਰਾਈਵਰ ਦੀ ਪਗੜੀ ਨਾਲ ਛੇੜਛਾੜ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ I   

https://hi-in.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=235332895379198&id=102308058681683

Punjabi Central ️

10 दिसंबर 2021 · 

A Sikh Uber driver who was attacked by a passenger in Mississauga says he was only offered $4 by Uber for the “inconvenience”

The Uber driver said the passenger was “very rude, got out of the car and started banging on my car and started abusing. I got out of the car and pushed him out of the way.”

“He kept coming back and started hitting me in the head. He hit me multiple times and took off my patka and started laughing when my hair was all out.” the driver said

The passenger was arrested by police shortly after a complaint was filed by the driver

The Uber driver said he is shook to the core after the experience and upset that was the only action taken by Uber 🛣

** post for journalistic purposes only**

Caption: @bramalea.rd

 

 

शेयर करें

[Premi]

 

 

 

[GurjantGnostic]

On 1/14/2022 at 10:19 PM, paapiman said:

Can you guys carry guns in New York? The gun laws are different in different states right?

 

Bhul chuk maaf

So rifles and shotguns no permit, open carry. 

Pistol permit required open carry, and special needs approval for concealed. 

So unless you have a specific need, or professional need, you'd have to open carry. 

[GurjantGnostic]

20 hours ago, Premi said:

deleted, error

 

 

 

[paapiman]

9 hours ago, GurjantGnostic said:

So rifles and shotguns no permit, open carry. 

Pistol permit required open carry, and special needs approval for concealed. 

So unless you have a specific need, or professional need, you'd have to open carry. 

Open carry means that the weapon must be visible right?

 

Bhul chuk maaf

[GurjantGnostic]

6 hours ago, paapiman said:

Open carry means that the weapon must be visible right?

 

Bhul chuk maaf

Correct. Concealed is basically always a permit. 

[paapiman]

On 1/16/2022 at 6:19 PM, GurjantGnostic said:

Correct. Concealed is basically always a permit. 

With Open carry, one can carry multiple weapons or only one weapon? What about weapons in the car? Can they be hidden or they have to be visible?

Thanks

 

Bhul chuk maaf

[GurjantGnostic]

2 hours ago, paapiman said:

With Open carry, one can carry multiple weapons or only one weapon? What about weapons in the car? Can they be hidden or they have to be visible?

Thanks

 

Bhul chuk maaf

Yes to multiple weapons. Some states let you have the gun in the car loaded, some require ammo be in the trunk and the gun in the cab. I think concealed only applies to your body.