: For personal safety, it is critical to always be aware of your surroundings. If possible, it is advisable to avoid state and federal government buildings between now and January 20. Expected among the protestors are white nationalist extremists who have a documented pattern of provoking and attacking counter-protestors to ‘muddy the waters’ of any incident and engage in further violence.
Report Hate Incidents: If you or someone you know experiences hate violence, bias-based property damage, hate vandalism, or threats thereof, immediately seek safety and medical attention if necessary and call law enforcement as soon as possible to report the incident. Please be aware that law enforcement should not ask you about your immigration status; in the event that they do, you have the right to not answer this question. Please contact the Sikh Coalition at 212-655-3095 or
fill out our reporting form immediately after the incident as well. We can provide free and confidential consultation with experienced attorneys in both English and Punjabi.
Know Your Rights: Download our
FAQ guide on hate crimes and hate speech and learn how to report incidents to authorities and the Sikh Coalition. Our
hate crime poster can be displayed at your gurdwara or emailed to the sangat, and is available in both English and Punjabi. Additionally, we provide educational brochures that serve as an introduction to the Sikh faith, community, and traditions; this resource is available in 18 different languages. To receive free copies of any of our available resources, please email us at
community@sikhcoalition.org.
Ensure Your Gurdwara is Secure: Since 2017, nearly 80 different gurdwaras have worked with the Sikh Coalition to take proactive steps to make their gurdwaras safer. You can review our Gurdwara Security Toolkit
here; we are also hosting a
gurdwara security webinar, with information specific to the California sangat, this Saturday. Ask your gurdwara if they have already participated in a free security consultation. If they haven’t, please have a gurdwara committee member email us at
community@sikhcoalition.org.
Share This Information: Finally, please forward this email to your immediate family and friends. Encourage them to
sign up for the Sikh Coalition’s email alerts so that they can continue to receive related updates on resources and information. Then, take the next easy step and post this information to your social media accounts. It is critical that we disseminate this information to every sangat member so that if a hate crime or bias-motivated incident happens, they know we are here to provide free and confidential legal resources.
As always, the Sikh Coalition urges you to practice your faith fearlessly.