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American Sikhs launch campaign to spread awareness about their community, counter hate crimes

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9 years ago

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American Sikhs launch campaign to spread awareness about their community, counter hate crimes

National Sikh Campaign says that despite the many contributions by Sikh-Americans, 60 per cent of Americans admitted they knew nothing about the community and 66% of Americans have never interacted with a Sikh before.

Feeling victimised and often the target of hate crimes in USA, American Sikhs today launched a nationwide million-dollar campaign to spread awareness and address the “collective misunderstanding” over the minority community amid a spike in hate crimes against them in the country.

Sikhs look distinctly different with their turban and full beard. To many Americans, they look the same as Islamists and post-9/11, some white US citizens treat them all as supporters of terrorism if not actually being terrorists.

A widely reported incident of such hate crime was that in May, when some white men brutally assaulted an IT specialist Maan Singh Khalsa, cutting off his hair and nearly snipping off the little finger of his right hand – all because of his appearance.

Last weekend, several eminent Sikh-Americans from across the US, lawmakers, government officials and local leaders participated in prayers weekend to mark fifth anniversary of a mass shooting by a white supremacist that claimed the lives of six Sikhs at a Gurdwara in the Wisconsin city.

On Wednesday, a month-long ‘We are Sikhs’ campaign was launched by the National Sikh Campaign (NSC), a non-profit organisation, to coincide with the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi.

It is a massive initiative to spread awareness of the Sikh religion and Sikh-Americans throughout the US as over 65% of Americans are ignorant about Sikhism.

A report in Los Angeles Times in June cited Sikh community leaders as saying they’ve seen another uptick since the 2016 presidential election and the Trump administration’s proposed immigration and travel bans. Those proposals, they argue, are fuelling an intensified xenophobia.

The FBI began collecting data on anti-Sikh, anti-Arab and anti-Hindu hate crimes for the first time in 2015. Only six of the incidents in the most recent FBI report were anti-Sikh hate crimes, but the bureau said it takes years to get an accurate accounting.

According to Sikh advocacy groups, such incidents are under-reported and do not include other hate-filled attacks, such as discrimination or hate speech — a concern buoyed by law enforcement data. Many cities either did not report hate crimes or reported zero hate crimes, according to the FBI report.

While some of the violence against Sikhs stems from misconceptions about their background — attackers assume they are Muslim or Middle Eastern — experts say much of it is fuelled by a prejudiced response to their darker skin, beards or turbans, the LA Times report said. It recalled that earlier this year, two Sikhs and two other Indian men were shot in attacks in Kansas, Washington and South Carolina. In two of the incidents, authorities said the shooters expressed a variation of the same sentiment: Go back to your country.

Community members are working to strike a balance in its efforts to educate the public about Sikhism — aiming to differentiate themselves through awareness campaigns and local outreach without appearing to condone attacks on Muslims and other minorities.

The NSC’s ‘We are Sikhs’ campaign is a “national effort to help inform our fellow Americans about who we are and why we are proud to wear the turban, a symbol of our community’s commitment to equality and serving others,” co-founder and senior advisor of the National Sikh Campaign Rajwant Singh said.

“Sikh-Americans are pillars of their communities in every corner of our nation and we must work to proactively meet and connect with our neighbours,” he said.

The campaign would involve marketing and public relation efforts that will focus on increasing the Sikh-American community’s presence in national and local news outlets, online platforms and neighbourhoods. It will utilise national and local television and cable and digital advertisements, social media and community events to affect change.

Its organisers said the Sikh community has been the target of discrimination, intimidation, harassment and hate crimes since the 9/11 terror attacks largely because of a “collective misunderstanding” of what the turban means in the Sikh faith.

“Sikh values are American values, and Sikh-Americans have been making positive and significant contributions to American life for more than a century. We run local businesses and sing our national anthem with pride,” Gurwin Singh Ahuja, co- founder and executive director of the NSC said.

“The American dream is fundamental to our identity here in America, and we believe deeply in the freedom to pursue one’s own success through hard work,” Ahuja said.

Elaborating on the campaign, Singh had told PTI this week that the “seven-figure” targeted ad campaign will run on cable TV networks like CNN and Fox as well as on local TV stations and will have a heavy presence on social media.

There will be 40-50 spots on CNN and other networks and will be shown in morning and prime time bulletins, circulating throughout the day. The campaign will run for a month throughout the nation.

“We have brought a very scientific and targeted messaging element to the campaign. Our focus is to build a proactive and positive message and try to educate and inform Americans about the positive contributions the Sikhs have been making in America,” Singh said.

For the campaign, the organisers have roped in prominent marketing experts and firms, which have in the past done presidential-style campaigns for former presidents Barack Obama and George Bush.

The campaign has been tested over a period of time and through polls and focus groups, the organisers narrowed in on what message would move the public opinion.

NSC, however, said that despite the many contributions by Sikh-Americans, 60 per cent of Americans admitted they knew nothing about the community and 66% of Americans have never interacted with a Sikh before.

While this lack of awareness and interaction exists, the NSC said it believes there is enormous potential to enhance positive feelings and familiarity towards Sikh-Americans through the campaign.

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US military seeks creative new ways to pressure Iran as Trump weighs next move

CENTCOM has reportedly launched a brainstorming effort seeking unconventional ideas to pressure Iran as the US reviews its military strategy and diplomatic options.

Published

2 days ago

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August 4, 2026

By

Donald Trump

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has reportedly asked a broad group of military analysts to suggest “new creative and unconventional ways” to increase pressure on Iran, according to a media report. The unusual request, made through an internal email, reflects an effort to reassess Washington’s strategy as military operations continue without a breakthrough.

According to the report, an officer in CENTCOM’s intelligence branch initiated the brainstorming exercise last week, seeking fresh ideas from across the command on how to deal with Iran. Officials cited by the media described the crowdsourcing-style email as an uncommon approach within the US military.

Why CENTCOM is seeking new ideas

The report said the initiative comes as President Donald Trump faces limited and increasingly difficult options to push Iran towards an agreement on US terms. A source familiar with the discussions said CENTCOM is reviewing every possible option while acknowledging that its current strategy requires reassessment.

Responding to the report, CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Timothy Hawkins said the command has a long history of encouraging innovative thinking. He added that Admiral Cooper regularly seeks ideas from personnel across different ranks to improve operational performance.

Email came before Trump’s reported strike decision

The internal email was reportedly sent before Trump last week considered authorising new strikes on Iran. However, according to the report, those plans were dropped after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud urged the US president during a phone call to pursue de-escalation.

The United States has been carrying out air strikes against Iran for weeks with the stated aim of weakening Tehran’s ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and encouraging the country to return to negotiations. Despite the campaign, the report noted there has been no indication of a diplomatic breakthrough.

Military options remain limited

The report said US military planners have continued preparing options targeting Pickaxe Mountain and other Iranian sites believed to house nuclear-related material or equipment. However, sources familiar with the planning reportedly believe even America’s most powerful conventional weapons may not be sufficient because the facilities are located deep underground.

According to the report, destroying such sites could require a ground operation, a step Trump has been unwilling to approve because of the significant military risks involved.

The report also stated that at least 18 US service members have been killed during the fighting in the Middle East.

Trump reportedly looking for a symbolic outcome

With no decisive military victory in sight, Trump has reportedly lowered expectations and is considering limited strikes that could provide a symbolic success while allowing the United States to end the conflict, according to sources quoted in the report.

Such an approach would move away from one of the administration’s original objectives of eliminating Iran’s nuclear programme and would not necessarily resolve tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.

One source familiar with the planning discussions was quoted as saying that the US president ultimately wants a negotiated agreement and is continuing to explore ways to increase pressure while avoiding a prolonged conflict.

The report also noted that earlier assessments by both the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) concluded that the current bombing campaign is unlikely to significantly change Iran’s negotiating position. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine has also publicly acknowledged that air power alone is unlikely to achieve all of the administration’s stated objectives.

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Priya Ghanghas, Sakshi Chaudhary script history as India win four boxing golds at Commonwealth Games 2026

Priya Ghanghas and Sakshi Chaudhary powered India to a record four boxing gold medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026, taking the country’s medal tally to 32.

Published

4 days ago

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August 1, 2026

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India continued its impressive campaign at the Commonwealth Games 2026 on Day 10, creating history in boxing as Priya Ghanghas and Sakshi Chaudhary added two more gold medals to the country’s tally. With four boxing gold medals already secured, India achieved its best-ever boxing performance in a single edition of the Commonwealth Games.

Priya Ghanghas defeated Canada’s Marie Al-Ahmadieh by a 4-1 split verdict in the women’s 60kg final. After conceding the opening round, the Indian boxer fought back strongly to win the next two rounds and seal the gold medal.

Earlier, Sakshi Chaudhary produced a commanding display to defeat England’s Ruby White by unanimous decision in the women’s 51kg final, earning India’s third boxing gold of the Games.

Four boxing champions script history

Priya Ghanghas and Sakshi Chaudhary joined Preeti Pawar and Jaismine Lamboria on the list of Indian boxing gold medallists at the Glasgow Games.

According to the live updates, India’s four boxing gold medals are the most the country has won in the sport at any edition of the Commonwealth Games.

The boxing campaign is still not over, with five more Indian boxers scheduled to compete in gold medal bouts later on Day 10.

India’s medal tally rises to 32

India’s medal tally climbed to 32 medals, comprising 10 gold, 15 silver and seven bronze.

Apart from boxing, India also celebrated a one-two finish in the men’s F57 shot put event. Soman Rana clinched the gold medal with a throw of 13.40 metres, while Shubham Juyal secured silver with 13.28 metres.

In athletics, Praveen Chithravel claimed silver in the men’s triple jump, while Selva Prabhu Thirumaran won bronze.

Judoka Unnati Sharma also added a bronze medal after defeating South Africa’s Skye Knoester by Ippon in the women’s -63kg event.

India eye more medals on Day 10

India’s medal tally could grow further as several athletes remain in contention later on Day 10.

Boxers Arundhati Choudhary, Lovlina Borgohain, Sachin Siwach, Ankush Panghal and Narender Berwal are all scheduled to compete in their respective finals. Harsh Tokas is also set to fight for bronze in the men’s -81kg judo event, while Indian athletes will feature in the men’s pole vault, men’s 5000m and mixed 4x400m relay finals.

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Spain’s Ceuta migrant crisis: 34 dead as 60,000 cross from Morocco in 24 hours

At least 34 migrants have died and around 60,000 crossed into Spain’s Ceuta from Morocco within 24 hours, prompting a major security response and diplomatic reactions across Europe.

Published

5 days ago

on

July 31, 2026

By

At least 34 migrants have died while attempting to cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, as Spain faces one of its biggest border challenges in recent years.

According to Ceuta regional president Juan Jesus Vivas, around 60,000 migrants entered the Spanish territory from Morocco within the past 24 hours. The situation has escalated rapidly since Thursday, with security personnel confronting large groups attempting to enter the enclave.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez travelled to Ceuta on Friday, where he condemned the breach of the border and described the incident as a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity.

Sanchez blamed human smuggling networks for encouraging dangerous migration attempts, saying traffickers exploit vulnerable people and put their lives at risk.

Spain says many migrants have already returned

Spain’s Interior Ministry said nearly half of those who crossed into Ceuta have already returned to Morocco. The ministry also released footage showing people walking back through a border gate separating the two territories.

To strengthen border security, the Spanish government has deployed additional troops, police personnel, divers, drones and boats in and around Ceuta.

Videos circulating on Thursday showed thousands of migrants crossing into the Spanish enclave, highlighting the scale of the sudden influx.

Crisis sparks diplomatic tensions across Europe

The large-scale movement of migrants has triggered diplomatic reactions across Europe. Germany, Italy and Finland criticised the situation, while France tightened border checks with Spain.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the scenes in Ceuta as unacceptable in a social media post, stressing that entry into the European Union must comply with established rules.

An EU official later said there was no evidence of migrants moving onward from Ceuta into mainland Europe.

Italy also called for Spain to be suspended from the Schengen free-travel area, with Finland and Denmark expressing support for the proposal. France and the United Kingdom said they were ready to assist Spain in managing the crisis.

Donald Trump comments on Ceuta crisis

US President Donald Trump also reacted to the developments, using the situation to criticise the Democratic Party’s immigration policies.

According to Fox News, Trump said the United States could face a similar situation if Democrats return to power, using the events in Ceuta as a warning about border security.

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