Statement by SAAPRI and AAJC-Chicago on hate crime against Sikh man

Statement by SAAPRI and AAJC-Chicago on hate crime against Sikh man

SOUTH ASIAN AMERICAN POLICY AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE (SAAPRI) AND ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE-CHICAGO CONDEMN HATE-FUELED ATTACK ON SIKH MAN IN CHICAGO SUBURB

Chicago, IL – South Asian American Policy and Research Institute (SAAPRI) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago (AAAJ-C) are outraged by the heinous, xenophobic attack on Inderjit Singh Mukker, a 53-year-old Sikh American resident from the Darien Suburb of Chicago.

SAAPRI strongly condemns hate-fueled violence, racism, and anti-immigrant actions and rhetoric. Racially motivated violence diminishes our whole society. Community organizations and the South Asian community must stand together in solidarity against hate and violence and promote compassion and respect for diversity.

Reema Kapur, Executive Director of SAAPRI

On September 9th, 2015, Mr. Mukker was brutally assaulted by the driver of another vehicle while on his way to the grocery store. The driver allegedly yelled racial slurs at Mr. Mukker, including “terrorist” “Bin Laden!” and “go back to your country!,” before approaching Mr. Mukker’s car, reaching inside, and repeatedly punching him in the face.  This assault caused Mr. Mukker to lose consciousness and left him with a fractured cheekbone and a laceration to his cheek. According to the Washington Post, the suspect is in custody, and the attack is being investigated as a hate crime.

Hate crimes like this one have absolutely no place in our society. From the Oak Creek massacre to the North Carolina shootings; from police brutality in Alabama to yesterday’s assault of Inderjit Singh Mukker in Darien, Illinois; it is clear that this type of xenophobia and Islamophobia exists in our communities, and we will not tolerate it in Chicago or anywhere else.

Tuyet Le, Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago

In the 14 years since 9/11, hate crimes against Sikhs, Muslims, South Asian Americans, and Arab Americans have grown exponentially. SAAPRI and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago have taken steps together to combat this alarming rise. For example, in 2012, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago and SAAPRI supported HR1193, which encourages violence prevention against Sikh, Muslim, South Asian, and Arab American communities in Illinois in the wake of the massacre on a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Read more about updates on Mukker’s case and how you can help at the Sikh Coalition
  • Read India Post’s coverage of the response to the attack on Mukker here