US Lawmakers Remember Sikh-American, First Victim Of Hate Crime Post 9/11
NDTV
Senator Sherrod Brown said 20 years ago today, Balbir, a Sikh American, was murdered for his appearance.
Top American lawmakers paid rich tributes as they remembered Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh American, who was the first victim of hate crime following the 9/11 terror attacks in which nearly 3,000 people from over 90 countries were killed. 20 years ago today, Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh American, was murdered for his appearance.His death marked the first deadly post-9/11 hate crime.Today and every day, let's stand united with our Sikh community in Ohio and reject hate and discrimination. pic.twitter.com/XqvUPazzME
Four days after 9/11, Balbir was killed outside the Arizona gas station he owned. He was the first person in the US to be killed in a supposed act of retaliation for the attacks in 2001.
"Today marks 20 Years Since Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh man, was killed in a hate crime in retribution for the 9/11 attacks. We honor his memory and the memories of all those lost to hate in the two decades since," Senator Robert Menendez said in a tweet.
"Twenty years ago, Sikh American Balbir Singh Sodhi was murdered in the first post 9/11 hate crime. He was shot to death while planting flowers outside his gas station in Mesa, Arizona, by a man who said he wanted to "go out and shoot some towel-heads," said Senator Dick Durbin.
