SALDEF Addresses Inappropriate Association of Sikh Community and Terrorists with FOX NEWS
06/23/06 - Press Release
Washington, DC – After receiving dozens of complaints from the Sikh community regarding a FOX NEWS story on the arrest of 17 accused Canadian terrorists, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) contacted FOX NEWS to inquire about a misrepresentation on their broadcast. The broadcasted story showed the front of the Ontario Khalsa Darbar - a Sikh Gurdwara (congregational place of worship) as the house of worship the terrorists frequented and also showed members of the local Sikh congregation.
SALDEF was immediately concerned for the safety of the Sikh community across North America who could possibly be targets of hate crimes as a result of the arrests and inappropriate images being displayed by the media. On June 8, 2006 SALDEF contacted the Fox News Correspondent who covered the story expressing disappointment that the news agency would make such a blatant error in depicting the local Sikh community as actor's in the terrorist plot. In an email to SALDEF, the Fox News Correspondent noted, "I did pull our entire crew into the satellite truck and explained to them the difference between a Gurdwara and a mosque. I can assure you they realized the gravity of this situation. I'm very, very sorry. "
Additionally, on June 9, 2006 SALDEF spoke with John Stack, a FOX NEWS Vice President, who expressed similar regret in the mistake and vowed to make a personal inquiry into the matter to assure that it would not happen again. SALDEF thanks the Sikh community who called and emailed us after this incident and also thanks the FOX NEWS personnel for diligently connecting with us to help to address the concerns of the community.
In another broadcast on FOX NEWS on June 10, 2006, Manjit Singh, SALDEF Co-Founder and Acting-Chairman was invited to speak on air regarding legislation sponsored by New York City Assemblyman Dov Hikind supporting the use of racial profiling by law enforcement.
On the show, Mr. Singh noted that, “we must not use valuable national security resources to target innocent American citizens for scrutiny solely based on their race or ethnicity. This policy is widely accepted as ineffective and seeks only to brand a certain demographic of Americans as perpetual terrorist suspects.”
A year ago, Assemblyman Hikind voted in support of legislation (A02486) which would prohibit the New York Police Department from using race and ethnicity as the sole indicators for suspects.
However, Assemblyman Hikind now has introduced legislation which will allow the NYPD to target American citizens who are or are perceived to be of Middle Eastern or Arab background.
SALDEF feels that this legislation is blatantly racist. The London bombings of 2006 and the Oklahoma City bombing in 1996, have proven that terrorists come from a wide range of ethnicities, races, and religions. Furthermore, Israeli Defense Forces have deemed racial profiling as an ineffective technique for stopping suicide bombers from claiming the lives of innocent civilians.
In support of this legislation, Assemblyman Hikind was once quoted as stating, “The FBI and authorities have a good idea of who is going to commit terrorism. They all look similar, but everyone is terrified of using the word 'racial.' There is a terrorist profile for a potential suicide bomber, and it's not the 75-year-old grandmother . . . who has an oversized tote bag firmly tucked under her arm.”
Assemblyman Hikind is clearly out of the mainstream of thousands of terrorist experts and police officers who have shown that racial profiling is a failed policy.
SALDEF urges the Sikh community in New York City and across the country to write to Assemblyman Hikind denouncing his legislation.
About SALDEF:
Founded in 1996 as the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Taskforce (SMART), SALDEF is the nation’s oldest national Sikh American advocacy group. Its mission is to protect the rights of Sikh Americans through legal assistance, legislative advocacy, public education, and ensuring accurate portrayal of the Sikh religion.
Contact: Rajbir Singh Datta
202-393-2700 ext 27
info@saldef.org
Washington, DC – After receiving dozens of complaints from the Sikh community regarding a FOX NEWS story on the arrest of 17 accused Canadian terrorists, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) contacted FOX NEWS to inquire about a misrepresentation on their broadcast. The broadcasted story showed the front of the Ontario Khalsa Darbar - a Sikh Gurdwara (congregational place of worship) as the house of worship the terrorists frequented and also showed members of the local Sikh congregation.
SALDEF was immediately concerned for the safety of the Sikh community across North America who could possibly be targets of hate crimes as a result of the arrests and inappropriate images being displayed by the media. On June 8, 2006 SALDEF contacted the Fox News Correspondent who covered the story expressing disappointment that the news agency would make such a blatant error in depicting the local Sikh community as actor's in the terrorist plot. In an email to SALDEF, the Fox News Correspondent noted, "I did pull our entire crew into the satellite truck and explained to them the difference between a Gurdwara and a mosque. I can assure you they realized the gravity of this situation. I'm very, very sorry. "
Additionally, on June 9, 2006 SALDEF spoke with John Stack, a FOX NEWS Vice President, who expressed similar regret in the mistake and vowed to make a personal inquiry into the matter to assure that it would not happen again. SALDEF thanks the Sikh community who called and emailed us after this incident and also thanks the FOX NEWS personnel for diligently connecting with us to help to address the concerns of the community.
In another broadcast on FOX NEWS on June 10, 2006, Manjit Singh, SALDEF Co-Founder and Acting-Chairman was invited to speak on air regarding legislation sponsored by New York City Assemblyman Dov Hikind supporting the use of racial profiling by law enforcement.
On the show, Mr. Singh noted that, “we must not use valuable national security resources to target innocent American citizens for scrutiny solely based on their race or ethnicity. This policy is widely accepted as ineffective and seeks only to brand a certain demographic of Americans as perpetual terrorist suspects.”
A year ago, Assemblyman Hikind voted in support of legislation (A02486) which would prohibit the New York Police Department from using race and ethnicity as the sole indicators for suspects.
However, Assemblyman Hikind now has introduced legislation which will allow the NYPD to target American citizens who are or are perceived to be of Middle Eastern or Arab background.
SALDEF feels that this legislation is blatantly racist. The London bombings of 2006 and the Oklahoma City bombing in 1996, have proven that terrorists come from a wide range of ethnicities, races, and religions. Furthermore, Israeli Defense Forces have deemed racial profiling as an ineffective technique for stopping suicide bombers from claiming the lives of innocent civilians.
In support of this legislation, Assemblyman Hikind was once quoted as stating, “The FBI and authorities have a good idea of who is going to commit terrorism. They all look similar, but everyone is terrified of using the word 'racial.' There is a terrorist profile for a potential suicide bomber, and it's not the 75-year-old grandmother . . . who has an oversized tote bag firmly tucked under her arm.”
Assemblyman Hikind is clearly out of the mainstream of thousands of terrorist experts and police officers who have shown that racial profiling is a failed policy.
SALDEF urges the Sikh community in New York City and across the country to write to Assemblyman Hikind denouncing his legislation.
About SALDEF:
Founded in 1996 as the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Taskforce (SMART), SALDEF is the nation’s oldest national Sikh American advocacy group. Its mission is to protect the rights of Sikh Americans through legal assistance, legislative advocacy, public education, and ensuring accurate portrayal of the Sikh religion.
Contact: Rajbir Singh Datta
202-393-2700 ext 27
info@saldef.org
posted by sartaj at 7:08 PM
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