WASHINGTON: In a moving gesture, the Obama administration has assured American Sikhs of their safety and security amid the recent increase in threats and hate crimes against the Indian community. Special Assistant to President Barack Obama and the head of the Office of Faith Based and Neighbourhood Partnerships office of the White House, Melissa Rogers visited a Gurdwara in Maryland to personally deliver the message.
Asserting that the US government stands with minority in America, Rogers also expressed empathy with the Sikh community over the recent incidents of violence against it and a reported case of vandalism at a Los Angeles Gurdwara. “I want to offer our deepest condolences for some recent violence and attacks against Sikhs and Sikh institutions. These reports are of tremendous concern to us as they are to you. We feel a deep sense of loss for victims of these crimes,” she said as she addressed the community at the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation Gurdwara. Rogers said the incidents not only bring grief among the people who are being attacked and the associated communities, but they also threaten all as America draws strength from its diversity.
“We want you to know that we stand by you and we will continue to work until we stamp these incidents out. Like you, we believe that attack on any faith is an attack on every faith,” Rogers said. “It is essential that all faith communities here and all over the world stand against hate motivated violence. We will continue to stand with you and we will continue to work to ensure that security and your civil constitutional rights are protected,” she added. “Sikh community has shown tremendous resilience in face of challenges and I am confident that you will triumph and we will be there with you to triumph over the current challenges that we face together.”
