Jun 6, 2008 6:08 pm US/Eastern
NYC Sikhs Want Bias Crimes Tracked
Cite Attack Of Queens Sikh Student Wearing Turban
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
The Sikh Coalition held a news conference Friday about students targeted for the turbans they wear as part of their religion.
AP
It's being called a bias attack in the New York City Public Schools. The Sikh community is outraged that a student was attacked this week at a high school in Richmond Hill.
On Tuesday, 18-year-old Jagmohan Singh Premi was attacked at Richmond Hill High School in what's being investigated as a hate crime. During class, a student came from behind and started to untie Premi's turban..
"Jagmohan tried to secure his turban and this other student punched him with a key in between his knuckles. He had a gouge in his face," attorney Harsimran Kaur said. "The student also grabbed his beard, sort of choked him, punched him on the chest as well before the teacher intervened."
"[He] hit me in the face, my eye," Jagmohan said.
The Sikh Coalition is calling on the Department of Ecudation to increase diversity training in city schools.
Schools Chancellor Joel Klein made an unexpected appearance as the family was discussing the incident today. Klein says the D.O.E. has already taken steps to increase religious tolerance. Klein promises a full investigation, and his office says a new school bias regulation will be implemented soon.
"We've been very active in the anti-hate campaign the council has launched," Klein said. "And I made clear to everyone that this is a priority and we don't tolerate harassment in our schools."
Jagmohan's father was "very sad this happened" and emphasized a need for safety in the schools and for his son to feel protected.
New York Council member John Liu stressed the lack of action taken by the D.O.E. despite repeated complaints about biased harassment and bullying.
"The D.O.E. is just as culpable as the attacker in [that] the Department of Education time and time again, refused to acknowledge the fact that bullying and harassment takes place," Liu said. "He was attacked sitting in his classroom minding his own business, trying to study, trying to learn.
"He was attacked, he was punched in the face by someone holding keys, with the intent to cause great harm," Liu continued. "And you can see the scars that he's still carrying, and [he] probably will do so for a long time."
The Sikh Coalition offered, at no expense, to provide diversity training, but the Department of Education didn't respond. When the D.O.E. offered diversity training to Richmond Hill High School, the school declined.
The Coalition is outraged by what happened to Singh. His school has a history of violence and harassment against Sikh students, which has been documented by the Sikh Coalition.
In May, a Sikh student at another Queens school had his turban removed and his waist-length hair cut off.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Dems Insist Health Care Bill Is DOA In Senate 31 mins ago
Stumble It!
