A local Sikh spiritual institution in the Orangevale suburb of California was attacked with racist graffiti in early 2020. Two weeks later, members of the Sikh community welcomed citizens, local politicians, and interfaith leaders to a Saturday morning open house and lunch to reject the hate-fueled message.
Racist vandalism at the Orangevale gurudwara
The Guru Maneyo Granth Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Center was relocated from its previous location in Granite Bay to its new place on Walnut Avenue early January 2020. Just one day after the conclusion of the three-day prayer celebration for the newly opened gurudwara, the members of the local Sikh spiritual center discovered the concrete sign in front of the new gurudwara. It had been spray painted with swastikas and the phrase "white power".
As reported, a neighbor noticed the graffiti early morning, and gurdwara officials and law enforcement were promptly notified. Since then, the gurdwara has retained the Sikh Coalition to assist in the case. There has been no arrest as of yet, but the group continued to work with local law enforcement to ensure that state and federal agencies are taking all required steps in response to this hate crime.
One of the bystanders, Jashan Singh, said, “To see something like this right after the grand opening was indeed a little puzzling and at the same time disturbing,”.
Despite the racist graffiti that had been left outside the previous day, a large number of Sikhs visited the temple in the evening to worship and spread awareness and love that Sikhism endorses. While it was disheartening to see the vandalism, people coming together in solidarity was uplifting. It reinforced the idea of humanity above all, and beyond all social prejudices.
Occurrences of hate activities against Sikhs
According to Willie Recht, the executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region, members of diverse faith groups have regularly come together to support one another. This is because hate crime attacks against vulnerable groups have escalated in past few years. He also said that it is horrible, and when such an incident happens, the community has no idea what the right next steps should be.
Since Saturday was Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, the Jewish federation's leadership team debated whether or not to attend the open house. However, they decided to attend it, and stand strong with the Sikh community. The people from the Jewish community also said that Sikhs had always stood in support of Jews, and gathered to mourn the eleven people who were killed at the Tree of Life synagogue. It is the responsibility of every faith to stand tall with each other in times of need.
The open house was held to resolve it all
Rajneet Kaur Sekhon, a member of the local Gurdwara said that open houses give the community members a "great" opportunity to learn about Sikhism and its beliefs, which include equality and justice for all people. She believes that Gurdwara is the name of a Sikh religious building that literally translates to "door to the guru" or "gateway to the teachings of the guru.
In Sikhism, people of all faiths are welcome in the gurudwara and served with love and devotion. Mostly, they also serve langar or community meals to everyone. The idea is to fill empty stomachs, and serve the larger cause of humanity.
Hearing about the vandalism incident “made me sick,” said Della Johnson, One of the residents who attended the open house, She said, “The more you know the more you’re going to understand that this is a very loving, compassionate group of people focused on serving the community and it’s amazing,” She expressed the hope that locals of all faiths will take the opportunity to attend open houses at the neighborhood gurudwara and gain a better understanding of the Sikh religion.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's hate crime report, anti-Sikh violence in the United States has increased by 200 %. Last year, Parmjit Singh, a Sikh man, was assassinated in a park in Tracy, and Sahib Singh was killed in Manteca the year before.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California McGregor Scott told the crowd, “We are continuing to work with the FBI (and) local law enforcement officials to try and figure out who did this,”
Also, the Sikh Coalition Senior Staff Attorney Cindy Nesbit said, “No community should ever feel unsafe in their house of worship, and it is essential that this case be investigated as a hate crime given the clear white nationalist rhetoric.”
Meanwhile, the Sikh community had a message for the individual or individuals responsible for the destruction. They invited the perpetrators to come and sit with them. Rather than retaliating, the people present there asked those who have hatred in their hearts to have a meal with them and discuss the core issues. Sikhs, as their faith teaches them to be calm, loving, and compassionate, even after harsh attacks continue to be humble, open-hearted, and ready to serve society as much as they can.