In November 2023, the FBI released its annual report documenting 11,634 hate crime incidents across the United States. These crimes involved 13,337 offenses, primarily motivated by biases related to race, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and gender. A concerning 59.1% of these crimes were based on race, ethnicity, and ancestry, highlighting a disturbing trend of increased hate crimes in recent years, even as discussions around human rights have intensified.
Given this troubling rise in hate crimes, UNITED SIKHS took action to protect and advocate for those targeted by bias-motivated violence, especially within the Sikh community. The organization aimed to provide legal support, raise public awareness, and collaborate internationally to ensure justice and protection for victims.

UNITED SIKHS has been at the forefront of defending the rights of Sikhs and other disadvantaged minorities. This includes recent cases such as:

• In the U.S.: A Texas man was charged with threatening employees of a Sikh organization. UNITED SIKHS took note of this case, advocating for stronger protections and accountability.
• In India: UNITED SIKHS’ legal team successfully secured a judgment from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, denying bail to a man charged with inciting violence against Sikhs through a provocative video.

UNITED SIKHS also provided direct support to victims, such as:

• Balwinder Singh (August 2022): After suffering severe facial injuries from a hate crime attack, UNITED SIKHS assisted him by engaging with New York City leaders to demand justice and solutions for victims.
• Sardar Nirmal Singh: UNITED SIKHS provided pro bono legal services after he was violently assaulted, facilitating communication with the U.S. Department of Justice and filing a complaint with the New York State Hate Crimes Task Force.

We also continued to focus on three key initiatives:

1. Providing legal support and representation to hate crime victims.
2. Conducting awareness campaigns to educate the public on Sikh beliefs and the importance of diversity and tolerance.
3. Collaborating with international bodies to advocate for policy changes that protect religious freedoms and minority rights.

Through our persistent efforts, UNITED SIKHS has made significant strides in advocating for victims of hate crimes, ensuring they receive the support they need while working towards broader societal changes. On the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, UNITED SIKHS echoes the United Nations’ call to empower communities against hate speech, believing that a united front can drive meaningful reforms and create a ripple effect of hope and change globally.