An investigation has been reopened in an attack on a Los Angeles bus driver who was repeatedly called a “suicide bomber” and “terrorist.”
The attack on Balwinder Jit Singh in November happened during his regular route. A passenger was charged with misdemeanor assault, but under pressure from the Sikh Coalition, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has agreed to take a second look at the case.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Los Angeles, along with eight other groups, are calling for a full hate crime investigation.
“As advocates for civil rights, we are outraged and saddened by this assault and troubled it took place in our diverse Southern California community,” said Karin Wang of Advancing Justice-LA. “We demand that the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department investigate this attack as a hate crime and we further urge the LASD to condemn all such attacks on Sikhs and other South Asians and Muslims, to reassure the community that law enforcement will protect them from such hateful attacks.”
The groups believe Singh was targeted because of his ethnicity and religion. Just as other Sikh men do, Singh wears a turban and a beard. He suffered injuries to his eyes and face and still experiences pain and blurry vision.
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