A newly compiled historical and data‑driven report reveals a disturbing and long‑overlooked pattern of discrimination, racial violence, and hate crimes targeting Sikh Americans for more than 120 years. The findings underscore the urgent need for accurate federal reporting, stronger protections, and national awareness to address the ongoing threat of anti‑Sikh hate.
The report traces the earliest documented mass attack on Sikhs to 1907, when white mobs violently expelled Sikh labourers from Bellingham, Washington. This event, described by historians as a pogrom, marked the beginning of a long struggle against racial hostility and exclusion.
Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, hate crimes against Sikhs surged dramatically. In the first month alone, the Sikh Coalition documented more than 300 cases of violence, threats, and discrimination. Many attackers wrongly associated Sikh turbans and beards with terrorism, leading to widespread fear and trauma within the community.
Throughout the 2000s, Sikh Americans continued to face workplace discrimination, school bullying, airport profiling, and hate‑motivated assaults. Despite this, the FBI did not include an “Anti‑Sikh” hate‑crime category until 2015, leaving years of violence unrecognised in national statistics.
A turning point came in 2012, when a white supremacist murdered six Sikh worshippers at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek. The massacre remains one of the deadliest attacks on a U.S. place of worship and highlighted the deadly consequences of unchecked hate.
Recent FBI data shows thousands of hate crimes reported annually, including hundreds motivated by religious bias. Sikh advocacy organizations, however, warn that anti‑Sikh incidents remain significantly underreported, often misclassified or ignored due to lack of training, inconsistent reporting practices, and victims’ reluctance to come forward.
“This is not just a historical issue — it is a present‑day crisis,” the report states. “Sikh Americans continue to face targeted violence, misidentification, and systemic undercounting in federal data. Without accurate reporting and national recognition, the true scope of anti‑Sikh hate remains hidden.”
The report calls for:
Improved federal and state hate‑crime reporting systems
Mandatory training for law enforcement on Sikh identity
Stronger protections for places of worship
Increased public education to combat misidentification and bias
Sikh Americans, who have lived in the United States for more than a century, continue to contribute to the nation’s economic, cultural, and civic life. Yet the community remains disproportionately targeted due to visible religious identity and persistent stereotypes.“Recognizing the problem is the first step,” the report concludes. “The Sikh community deserves safety, dignity, and accurate representation in the nation’s data and consciousness.”