September 23, 2024

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Indian-origin Sikh taxi driver assaulted, his turban knocked off by unidentified man at JFK Airport

2 min read

In a one more case of suspected hate crime, an Indian-origin Sikh taxi driver within the US has been assaulted by an unidentified man, who knocked off his turban and likewise used expletives towards him outdoors the JFK International Airport in New York, in accordance with a video on social media.
The undated 26-second video was uploaded by Navjot Pal Kaur on Twitter on Jan 4, displaying a person assaulting the Sikh taxi driver outdoors the airport. She mentioned the video was shot by a bystander on the airport.
The particular person could be heard allegedly utilizing expletives towards the sufferer. He repeatedly hits and punches him and knocks off his turban.

“This video was taken by a bystander at John F Kennedy International Airport. I do not own the rights to this video. But I just wanted to highlight the fact that hatred continues to remain in our society and unfortunately I’ve seen Sikh cab drivers get assaulted again and again,” Kaur tweeted.
Further particulars concerning the driver or the reason for the incident weren’t out there.
The video led to indignant reactions by the group members.
“Another Sikh cab driver assaulted. This one at JFK Airport in NYC. So upsetting to see. But it’s crucial that we don’t look away. What I am sure of is how painful it is to watch our fathers and elders get assaulted while they’re just trying to live an honest life. For those who aren’t Sikh, I can’t put into words what it means to have your turban knocked off — or to see someone else’s turban knocked off. It’s visceral and gut-wrenching and just so disheartening to witness,” Simran Jeet Singh, writer and Director for the Aspen Institute’s Inclusive America Project, tweeted.
The National Sikh Campaign mentioned, “we are only a few days into the new year and there has already been a hate crime committed against a Sikh. A bystander recorded an unidentified man attacking a Sikh taxi driver, ultimately knocking off the driver’s turban.”
“No additional details have been released outside of the video, but we know this story too well. A Sikh person goes about their daily lives only to be senselessly attacked by someone. Common road rage between people can escalate when someone who is ignorant of who we are takes their disdain for our turbans and becomes violent,” it mentioned.

This is just not the primary time a Sikh taxi driver has been assaulted within the US.
An Indian-origin Sikh Uber driver was in 2019 assaulted and racially abused within the US state of Washington in a suspected hate crime. The driver advised the police that he believes his race promoted the assault.
In 2017, a 25-year-old Sikh cab driver in New York was assaulted and his turban knocked off by drunk passengers.