09/16/2021
President Joe Biden honors the life of Balbir Singh Sodhi and stands against hate, racism, and xenophobia -- elevating a message of Chardi Kala.
On September 15, 2001, Balbir Singh Sodhi--a turbaned, 52-year-old Sikh father, husband, and brother--was shot to death while planting flowers outside of his gas station in Mesa, Arizona. Balbir’s murder is believed to be the first death resulting from a post-9/11 hate crime; his killer had reportedly said earlier in the day that he was “going to go out and shoot some towel-heads” in retribution for the attacks.
Sadly, the story of Mr. Sodhi and his family is far from unique: Thousands of Americans from a wide range of communities were subject to intense suspicion, discrimination, and hatred in both the immediate and long-term aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Far too many among us experienced profiling, surveillance, workplace segregation and discrimination, school bullying, and/or bias-motivated harassment and violence. Our communities effectively suffered the trauma of 9/11 in not one, but two ways: Once as we grieved like all Americans, frightened and devastated by an attack on our nation, and then immediately again due to the bias-driven abuse from our neighbors, employers, and government because of how we look, how we worship, or where our families once came from.
Read President Biden's statement honoring Balbir Singh Sodhi:
