US lawmakers pay tribute to Balbir Singh Sodhi
TOP US lawmakers have paid rich tributes to Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh American, who was the first victim of hate crime following the 9/11 terror attacks. Four days after 9/11, Balbir was killed outside the Arizona gas station he owned.
‘Today marks 20 Years Since Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh man, was killed in a hate crime in retribution for the 9/11 attacks. We honor his memory and the memories of all those lost to hate in the two decades since,' Senator Robert Menendez said in a tweet.
‘Twenty years ago, Sikh American
Balbir Singh Sodhi was murdered in the first post 9/11 hate crime. He was shot to death while planting flowers outside his gas station in Mesa, Arizona, by a man who said he wanted to ‘go out and shoot some towel-heads,' said Senator Dick Durbin.
Congresswomen Lois Frankel said days after 9/11, Balbir, a Sikh man, was killed in ‘retribution' for the attacks.
Sodhi moved to the US in the late 1980s with a number of his brothers, who left Punjab after a series of anti-Sikh programs following the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
Senator Sherrod Brown said 20 years ago today, Balbir, a Sikh American, was murdered for his appearance.
‘His death marked the first deadly post-9/11 hate crime. Today and every day, let's stand united with our Sikh community in Ohio and reject hate and discrimination,' he tweeted.
‘Days after 9/11, Sikh American Balbir Singh Sodhi was killed in the apparent first ‘retribution' hate crime following the attacks.
Today, we honour his memory & remain united in our efforts to fend off all forms of hate & discrimination,' tweeted Senator Richard Blumenthal.
Congressman Donald Norcross said: ‘Balbir Singh Sodhi, a turbaned Sikh man, was killed in a hate crime in retribution for the 9/11 attacks 20 years ago today. I stand in solidarity with New Jersey's Sikh community as we honor his memory & the memories of all those lost to hate in the two decades since.'
Sodhi's killer Frank Roque is serving life in prison.