The history of Sikhs in the United States is a story of perseverance, contribution, and community strength. Yet it is also marked by a long and painful record of discrimination, racial violence, and misidentification. Sikh identity — especially the turban and beard — has repeatedly made the community a visible target for hate. A review of more than a century of events reveals how anti‑Sikh bias has evolved and why it continues to demand national attention.
Early 1900s: Racial Violence and Expulsion
One of the earliest recorded mass attacks on Sikhs occurred in 1907 in Bellingham, Washington. White mobs violently assaulted Sikh laborers and expelled them from the town. This event, often described as a pogrom rather than a riot, reflected deep‑rooted anti‑immigrant sentiment and economic fear. It set the tone for the challenges Sikh immigrants would face for decades.
Post‑9/11 Era: A Surge in Hate Crimes
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 triggered an immediate and dramatic rise in hate crimes against Sikhs. In the first month alone, the Sikh Coalition documented more than 300 cases of violence, threats, and discrimination. Many attackers wrongly associated Sikh turbans with terrorism, leading to widespread fear and trauma within the community.
Throughout the 2000s, thousands of Sikhs reported workplace discrimination, school bullying, airport profiling, and hate‑motivated assaults. Surveys showed that Sikh Americans were disproportionately targeted, yet federal hate‑crime data did not even include an “anti‑Sikh” category until 2015. As a result, years of violence remained invisible in national statistics.
2012: The Oak Creek Gurdwara Massacre
A turning point came in 2012, when a white supremacist opened fire inside the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, killing six worshippers. This was one of the deadliest attacks on a place of worship in modern U.S. history. The tragedy brought national attention to the deadly consequences of hate and highlighted the urgent need for better tracking and prevention of anti‑Sikh violence.
2015–2020: Federal Recognition and Continued Challenges
In 2015, the FBI officially added “Anti‑Sikh” as a separate hate‑crime category. This was a historic step toward visibility, but reporting remained inconsistent. Many police departments lacked training to correctly classify incidents, and many victims were reluctant to report due to fear or mistrust.
2020–2024: Rising Awareness, Persistent Underreporting
Recent FBI data shows thousands of hate crimes annually, including hundreds motivated by religious bias. Sikh organizations, however, continue to warn that anti‑Sikh incidents remain underreported, misclassified, or ignored. The gap between lived reality and official data remains a major challenge.
Conclusion
The history of Sikhs in America reveals both the depth of the challenges and the strength of the community. Despite a century of discrimination, Sikh Americans continue to contribute, lead, and stand resilient. But the need for accurate reporting, stronger protections, and national awareness remains urgent. Anti‑Sikh hate is not a historical issue — it is a present‑day reality that demands action.