No one should experience such hate: Sikh driver on assault at US airport

An Indianorigin 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 hateIn a statement on January 3 communitybased civil and human rights organisation The Sikh Coalition said that New York City resident Singh was physically attacked and berated near his cab at JFK International AirportSingh had parked his cab at the Terminal 4 taxi stand when another driver blocked his vehicle When Singh picked up a customer he stepped out of his car to ask the other driver to move The other driver attempted to hit Singh with his own car door he then began repeatedly punching him in the head chest and arms knocking off his turban it said in a statementThe other driver referred to Singh as turbaned people and shouted at him to go back to your country according to the statementI 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 Singh out of respect for his request for privacy told The Sikh CoalitionSingh 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 organisations staff accompanied Singh to a meeting with a detective to provide language assistance and legal supportWe 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 Singh said Amrith Kaur Aakre Sikh Coalition Legal DirectorThe Sikh Coalition is appreciative of all who have stepped forward to support 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 Aakre saidNavjot Pal Kaur had posted the 26second video of the attack on January 4 on Twitter and it soon went viralKaur 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 Ive seen Sikh cab drivers get assaulted again and againSimran Jeet Singh author and Director for the Aspen Institutes Inclusive America Project had tweeted Another Sikh cab driver assaulted This one at JFK Airport in NYC So upsetting to see But its crucial that we dont look awayWhat I am sure of is how painful it is to watch our fathers and elders get assaulted while theyre just trying to live an honest lifeFor those who arent Sikh I cant put into words what it means to have your turban knocked off or to see someone elses turban knocked off Its visceral and gutwrenching and just so disheartening to witness Singh tweetedIndias 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 incidentThe 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 videoOur diversity makes the US stronger amp we condemn any form of hatebased violence State Departments Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs SCA had tweetedWe all have a responsibility to hold perpetrators of hate crimes accountable for their actions no matter where such crimes occur it addedSingh has retained the Sikh Coalition to provide free legal guidance as the investigation into his attacker moves forwardThe organisation said that out of respect for Singhs 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 hatedriven attacks on account of their visually identifiable articles of faith including turbans as well as perceptions about their country of originAccording to the most recent FBI data Sikhs remain in the top three most frequently targeted groups for religiouslymotivated hate crimes and bias incidents nationwideIn the Sikh Coalitions experience taxi and rideshare drivers in particular are at a heightened risk of these kinds of violent attacks it saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever