Sikh taxi driver assaulted, his turban knocked off by unidentified man in US

[Premi5]

https://www.indiatoday.in/world/indians-abroad/story/indian-origin-sikh-taxi-driver-assaulted-turban-knocked-us-1897586-2022-01-08

Press Trust of India 

New York

January 8, 2022

UPDATED: January 8, 2022 11:40 IST

 

Indian-origin Sikh taxi driver assaulted, his turban knocked off by unidentified man in US

An Indian-origin Sikh taxi driver in the US was assaulted by an unidentified man who knocked off his turban and also used expletives against him outside the JFK International Airport.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In these screengrabs of the undated video, a man could be seen assaulting the Sikh taxi driver outside the JFK International Airport. (Screengrab/Twitter/@navjotpkaur)

 

In a yet another case of suspected hate crime, an Indian-origin Sikh taxi driver in the US has been assaulted by an unidentified man, who knocked off his turban and also used expletives against him outside the JFK International Airport here, according to a video on social media.

The undated 26-second video was uploaded by Navjot Pal Kaur on micro-blogging site Twitter on January 4, showing a man assaulting the Sikh taxi driver outside the airport. She said the video was shot by a bystander at the airport.

The person can be heard allegedly using expletives against the victim. He repeatedly hits and punches him and knocks off his turban.

“This video was taken by a bystander at John F. Kennedy International Airport. I do not own the rights to this video. But I just wanted to highlight the fact that hatred continues to remain in our society and unfortunately I’ve seen Sikh cab drivers get assaulted again and again,” Kaur tweeted.

Further details about the driver or the cause of the incident were not available.

The video led to angry reactions by the community members.

“Another Sikh cab driver assaulted. This one at JFK Airport in NYC. So upsetting to see. But it’s crucial that we don’t look away What I am sure of is how painful it is to watch our fathers and elders get assaulted while they’re just trying to live an honest life.

“For those who aren’t Sikh, I can’t put into words what it means to have your turban knocked off — or to see someone else’s turban knocked off. It’s visceral and gut-wrenching and just so disheartening to witness,” Simran Jeet Singh, author and Director for the Aspen Institute’s Inclusive America Project, tweeted.

The National Sikh Campaign said, “we are only a few days into the new year and there has already been a hate crime committed against a Sikh. A bystander recorded an unidentified man attacking a Sikh taxi driver, ultimately knocking off the driver’s turban.”

“No additional details have been released outside of the video, but we know this story too well. A Sikh person goes about their daily lives only to be senselessly attacked by someone. Common road rage between people can escalate when someone who is ignorant of who we are takes their disdain for our turbans and becomes violent,” it said.

 

This is not the first time a Sikh taxi driver has been assaulted in the US.

An Indian-origin Sikh Uber driver was in 2019 assaulted and racially abused in the US state of Washington in a suspected hate crime. The driver told the police that he believes his race promoted the attack.

In 2017, a 25-year-old Sikh cab driver in New York was assaulted and his turban knocked off by drunk passengers.

[Jassu]

Americans (the general population) are incredibly low IQ and not aware of anything, compared to other nations. 

Who can forget this?

It is absolutely disgusting. I actually legit fear for our elderly and older folk going out and about. It’s just going to get worse and worse as more hatred or resentment towards Islam/Muslims increases (especially in places like Europe).

[Premi5]

3 minutes ago, Jassu said:

Americans (the general population) are incredibly low IQ and not aware of anything, compared to other nations. 

Who can forget this?

It is absolutely disgusting. I actually legit fear for our elderly and older folk going out and about. It’s just going to get worse and worse as more hatred or resentment towards Islam/Muslims increases (especially in places like Europe).

@GurjantGnostic ?

[Jassu]

Just now, Premi5 said:

@GurjantGnostic ?

They are really dumb. They see Taliban wearing turbans and associate Sikhs with Taliban. 

[Premi5]

Just now, Jassu said:

They are really dumb. They see Taliban wearing turbans and associate Sikhs with Taliban. 

Ignorance is different to being dumb. 

Sikhs need to do more Parchaar there. It will take time. It's not like the UK where many gore know of Sikhs military connections and respect us for that, and the India connection.

[Jassu]

Just now, Premi5 said:

Ignorance is different to being dumb. 

Sikhs need to do more Parchaar there. It will take time. It's not like the UK where many gore know of Sikhs military connections and respect us for that, and the India connection.

If you are willingly ignorant in the 21st century with all this technology and information around you then you are dumb. If you attack someone based on an article of clothing then you are dumb. I also feel bad for hijabis being attacked but I believe men get attacked more than women.

In the US, they even think North Indians and Pakistanis are Arabs and Arabs are next to white people. Arabs are classed as white there. They have no awareness of phenotypes.

[GurjantGnostic]

I've heard it said that were it not for war, americans would know nothing of any other country, and I think that's largely true. It's disgusting and tragic. More Parchar is all we can do. And be armed. Hate to see aome sick misguided individual get Jhatka but better that than a Sikh getting stomped out. We need to consider ourselves and each other. Untouchable. 

[Premi5]

3 minutes ago, Jassu said:

If you are willingly ignorant in the 21st century with all this technology and information around you then you are dumb. If you attack someone based on an article of clothing then you are dumb. I also feel bad for hijabis being attacked but I believe men get attacked more than women.

In the US, they even think North Indians and Pakistanis are Arabs and Arabs are next to white people. Arabs are classed as white there. They have no awareness of phenotypes.

Agree with this

But your other points, it's ignorance. If Americans were more aware of Sikhi (which is difficult as it likely is not taught about at most schools, and most have no contact with Sikhs) then they would respect much more and we would see a lot less hate crime. 

That's an advantage of living in UK or Canada where there's much more awareness.

[GurjantGnostic]

25 minutes ago, Jassu said:

If you are willingly ignorant in the 21st century with all this technology and information around you then you are dumb. If you attack someone based on an article of clothing then you are dumb. I also feel bad for hijabis being attacked but I believe men get attacked more than women.

In the US, they even think North Indians and Pakistanis are Arabs and Arabs are next to white people. Arabs are classed as white there. They have no awareness of phenotypes.

Yes. 99% or more of america have no idea where the Caucasus mountains even are. 

They call muslims and arabs affectionately sand n****** s that lets you know how white they think they are. 

Have you heard of the one drop rule?

[Jassu]

4 minutes ago, GurjantGnostic said:

Yes. 99% or more of america have no idea where the Caucasus mountains even are. 

They call muslims and arabs affectionately sand n****** sp that lets you know how white they think they are. 

Have you heard of the one drop rule?

No, I mean if a Syrian was walking outside in the US without his skull cap (they don’t even wear those there btw) and they also saw a Sikh man wearing a turban outside; they would think that the Sikh was the Arab and not vice versa. This is how Americans think.

Also, one drop rule is dumb. Pretty much everyone in the US is mixed, even the ‘white’ people. All those Stormfront types get so mad when they take a DNA test and find out that their great great great great great grandfather Cletus shagged a slave woman lol.