WASHINGTON: US Lawmakers Remember Sikh-American, First Victim Of Hate Crime Post 9/11

WASHINGTON: 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.

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.

Congresswomen
Lois Frankel said days after 9/11, Balbir, a Sikh man, was killed in
‘retribution” for the attacks.

“Today,
we honor Balbir’s memory–and celebrate 20 years of solidarity and advocacy
among the communities that continue to persevere against hate and
discrimination,” she said.

Senator
Sherrod Brown said 20 years ago today, Balbir, 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,” he tweeted.

“Days
after 9/11, Sikh American Balbir Singh Sodhi was killed in the apparent first
‘retribution” hate crime following the attacks. Today, we honor his memory
& remain united in our efforts to fend off all forms of hate &
discrimination,” tweeted Senator Richard Blumenthal.

“Balbir
Singh Sodhi, a turbaned Sikh man, was killed in a hate crime in retribution for
the 9/11 attacks 20 years ago today. I stand in solidarity with New Jersey’s
Sikh community as we honor his memory & the memories of all those lost to
hate in the two decades since,” said Congressman Donald Norcross.

Balbir’s
killer Frank Roque is serving life in prison.

 As the world marked the 20th
anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks recently, Balbir’s brother Rana
Singh Sodhi said: “We all humans are equal – colour, creed and gender. To
honour my brother, if you love your neighbours, if you respect people with
different colour, creed and gender, it will be a big honour to my
brother”.