Washington: On the Eve of the first anniversary of the Wisconsin Oak Creek Gurdwara Tragedy, vandals have defaced walls adjoining Riverside Gurdwara near Los Angeles, California. The miscreants in an apparent hate crime with the word 'TERRIST!' in capital letters spray painted around the complex, according to a community organisation.
According to community members, the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF), the vandalism occurred on the intervening night of July 29 and 30. Sikh organisations are warning Sikhs around the US to remain vigilant as the first anniversary of the Oak Creek tragedy nears, hate groups may take advantage of this time to hurt Sikhs further.
SALDEF said it's in contact with Riverside County Sheriff Department, the Riverside Police Department, the FBI and Department of Justice urging them to investigate the incident as a hate crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.
SALDEF Executive Director Jasjit Singh said, "It is horrible to see an attack of hate on a place of worship as we reflect on the lives lost one year ago during the attack on the Oak Creek Gurdwara" in Wisconsin where six Sikh worshippers were shot dead by a white supremacist gunman. Asking local and federal law enforcement agencies to rightfully classify the incident as a hate crime, he said: "Attacks and vandalism against any of the nation's houses of worship must be condemned by all Americans."
