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SMART Responds to Presidential Candidate’s Comments Linking Sikhs to Terrorism

Sikh American Organization Seeks Apology from Senator Kerry

Washington, DC— Following a campaign event during which U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (D-MA) singled out the adherents of the Sikh religion as terrorists, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), is demanding a correction of this error. The comment was made in Oklahoma City, OK on Saturday, January 31 as Senator Kerry responded to a question about the global terrorist threat.

After stating that terrorism did not begin with the 9/11 attacks, Senator Kerry proceeded to give the examples of tensions in Northern Ireland, the Basque separatists in Spain, and the Sikhs in India. However, among the examples, none were mentioned by religion other than the Sikhs.

In its letter to Senator Kerry, SMART stated, “Needless to say, the cause of some of these and other conflicts around the world are rooted in religion. Furthermore, based on your response, which was broadcast on C-SPAN and other news outlets, all adherents of the Sikh faith can be interpreted as condoning or being associated with terrorism.”

SMART, the oldest national Sikh American civil rights organization, is seeking an apology from Senator Kerry and a meeting with the campaign staff. In its letter to Senator Kerry, SMART also stated Sikh Americans are still “…targets of discrimination and racial profiling as well as hate crimes based on the ignorance of individuals and stereotyping in the media. Your congressional staff has long worked with SMART on workplace discrimination and hate crime

s issues, and we are confident that it was not your intent to single out adherents of the Sikh faith as terrorists.”

SMART is awaiting a response from Sen. Kerry’s campaign before taking any further action and will keep the community informed about this issue.

To view a C-SPAN clip of the Oklahoma City campaign event, please click here: rtsp://video.c-span.org/project/c04/c04020104_kerry.rm and forward to 31:30 (NOTE: This requires RealPlayer, available for free at http://www.real.com/).

### END ###

About SMART

SMART, founded in 1996, is the oldest national Sikh American civil rights organization. Our mission is to protect the rights of Sikh Americans through legislative advocacy, public education, legal assistance, and ensuring accurate portrayal of the Sikh religion.

For more information about SMART visit our web site www.sikhmediawatch.org or email info@sikhmediawatch.org. To learn how you can volunteer and assist us please visit www.sikhmediawatch.org/aboutus/volunteernow.htm or send an email to volunteer@sikhmediawatch.org.

Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART)

1331 H Street, NW, 11th Floor

Washington, DC 20005

Tel : 202-393-2700 / 877-91-SIKHS

Fax : 202-318-4433

Email : info@sikhmediawatch.org

Web : http://www.sikhmediawatch.org

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Rochak Veerji, nice post!!

Here's a bit revised version, everyone should e-mail this guy!!!!! Your input counts!!!!!

Mr. John Kerry

I would like to bring to your attention the very serious fact that you have deeply offended the American Sikh community by classifying Sikhs in India as terrorists. By equating the Sikhs with the IRA and the Basques you have labelled the entire community as a violent nation.

I wonder if you have any idea what the Sikhs have had to face in India, being a minority. They have suffered desecration of their holiest shrine (The Golden Temple) in their own native state of Punjab in India, mass murders in the Indian capital New Delhi and repeated human rights violations throughout the 80s and all the way to the mid 90s. It would only be wise to offer an apology to one of the most hardworking and enterprising communities in the United States.

This accident of yours will result in loss of support from thousands of Sikhs in America, along with other countries, as they become familiar with your statement. Being a politician, I think this would be necessary for your future success.

Looking forward to prompt action on your behalf

YOUR NAME

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You guys, (who live near this goof) should goto the MEDIA, and tell them that the entire SIKH community is offended by his statements, its a clear sign of racism, you can even say, today its SIKHS, tomorrow it could be blacks, jews, whatever..

I'm sure media can spice it up!!

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