April ‘Sikh awareness month’ in Illinois: PIO Congressman

Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (pic) has entered a statement into the Congressional record to recognise April as 'Sikh appreciation and awareness month' in his home state of Illinois. Underscoring the importance of the recognition, Krishnamoorthi said there has been a disturbing rise in hate crimes and violent acts perpetrated against the Sikh-Americans.

"Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognise the month of April as 'Sikh appreciation and awareness month' in my home state of Illinois," Krishnamoorthi said in a statement submitted into Congressional record. This recognition, he said, is timely, given the disturbing rise in hate crimes and violent acts perpetrated against Sikh-Americans, most recently on April 15 at a Federal Express facility located in Indianapolis in which four Sikhs, including three women were killed.

The first followers of the Sikh religion emigrated to the United States over 125 years ago, where they found work on farms located in California and in the lumber mills of Washington state, he said. Despite suffering persecution and discrimination, these patriotic SikhAmericans persevered and found ways to participate in civic life, including service in the United States Army, he added.

Sikhs traumatised

Ajeet Singh had to steel himself for a return to work at a FedEx warehouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday for the first time since a former employee shot dead eight people, including four members of Indianapolis' tightly knit Sikhs. "I've been scared to go back," Singh said. "I don't know why this happened still. Was it random, or was it because of who I am?"