New York, NY, July 13, 2004 The Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
condemned the July 11 attack on a Sikh man by a group of men in Queens as a deplorable hate crime.
Rajinder Singh Khalsa, who wears the traditional beard
and turban of his religion and is the president of an organization founded to create awareness
of the city's Sikh population, was severely beaten and suffered a broken nose in the attack,
which took place outside a restaurant in the Richmond Hill section.
"This week, our community was shaken by a deplorable crime,
the attack on Rajinder Singh Khalsa in Richmond Hills, Queens," said Joel J.
Levy, Director ADL New York Office. "This reprehensible hate crime is evidence of the tragic
reality that hate remains a force in our communities and it must be fought. In our diverse society,
it does not matter whether the victim is Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish or Christian. People of all
backgrounds need to work together to build a future that we can be proud to pass on to our
children and grandchildren."
The police have made an arrest in the attack.
"We applaud the police for their fast action in this case,
especially the members of the Hate Crimes Task Force who played a key role," added Mr. Levy.
"We hope the District Attorney will prosecute this case as a hate crime, and the people
responsible will be punished to the fullest extent of the law."
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading
organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract
hatred, prejudice and bigotry
