The Sikh community in the United States continues to face significant challenges related to hate crimes and violence, remaining among the most targeted religious groups in America. During the 2024-2025 period, several disturbing incidents have highlighted the ongoing threats faced by Sikh Americans, though many cases go unreported or are not properly classified as hate crimes.
According to the most recent FBI data, law enforcement agencies reported 11,679 bias-motivated criminal incidents in 2024, with 2,783 of these incidents based on religious bias. Sikhs remain third most targeted religious group in US hate crimes FBI data. The Sikh community continues to be disproportionately affected by this violence. Overall hate crime incidents rose to 11,862 in 2023, up from 11,634 in 2022 | 2023 FBI Hate Crimes Statistics, demonstrating that the problem of bias-motivated violence remains persistent and urgent for all marginalised communities.
In California specifically, the situation has been particularly concerning. Sikhs reported six hate crimes against them in the state—the highest number since the state justice department began displaying that data in 2014 Sikhs Remain Third-Most Targeted Religious Group in Latest FBI Hate Crime Data . This represents a significant spike in reported incidents and suggests that the actual number of attacks may be even higher, as many hate crimes go unreported or are misclassified by law enforcement.
One of the most brutal attacks occurred in August 2025 in North Hollywood, California. On August 4, Harpal Singh, a 70-year-old member of the Sikh community, was brutally assaulted near the Sikh Gurdwara of LA (also known as the Lankershim Gurdwara Sahib) Hate crime charges filed after 66-year-old Sikh man is killed. Harpal Singh remains in an induced coma after being attacked by a man with a golf club Murder/Suicides in 2025 . The severity of the attack left the elderly man in critical condition, and the assault occurred in close proximity to a place of worship, adding to the community’s sense of vulnerability.
Police identified the suspect as Bo Richard Vitagliano, 44, who was being held on $1.115 million bail, and the 70-year-old remains in critical condition, unable U.S. murder-for-hire plot linked to B.C. Sikh temple killing – Yukon News to recover fully. A suspect is in custody for the brutal assault, however, at this time, the LAPD is not investigating the case as a hate crime Sikh American Man Stabbed and Killed in Idaho – SALDEF. This decision by law enforcement has sparked frustration within the Sikh community, as many believe the attack’s proximity to the gurdwara and the victim’s visible Sikh identity suggest bias motivation.
Beyond physical violence, Sikh organizations have also faced serious threats. A man from Dallas, Texas, admitted to a hate crime and making interstate threats against the employees of a Sikh nonprofit organization. Bushan Athale, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of interfering with federally protected activities through the threatened use of a dangerous weapon Counted but Not Seen: The Sikh Struggle for Justice Amid a Quiet Crisis of Hate – UNITED SIKHS. This case, which concluded in April 2025, demonstrates that the threat extends beyond random street violence to include targeted intimidation of Sikh advocacy groups and their staff.
The climate of hostility extends to younger members of the community as well. A 2024 study by the Sikh Coalition found that Sikh children continue to be bullied at rates much higher than the national average—and that turbaned male students especially Misconceptions and Misidentification of Sikhs Post-9/11 face harassment. These bullying victims often encounter apathy or even deliberate hostility from teachers and school administrators, compounding the trauma and leaving young Sikhs feeling isolated and unprotected in educational settings.
A significant challenge in addressing violence against Sikhs is the widespread underreporting of hate crimes. Advocacy organizations note that the true scale of the problem is likely much larger than official statistics suggest. Many incidents are never reported to police, while others are reported but not properly categorized as hate crimes by law enforcement agencies. This gap between lived experience and official data makes it difficult to secure adequate resources and policy responses to protect the community.
The vulnerability of Sikh Americans is not new. The community has faced heightened discrimination since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, when many Sikhs were targeted due to mistaken identity and Islamophobia. August 5, 2025 marked the 13th anniversary of the Oak Creek Sikh Temple shooting What the data says about gun deaths in the US | Pew Research Center, a mass shooting that occurred in Wisconsin in 2012, serving as a somber reminder of the deadly violence the community has endured. That attack killed six people and wounded many others, representing one of the deadliest hate crimes against Sikhs in American history.
The ongoing pattern of violence, threats, and discrimination against Sikh Americans during 2024-2025 reflects broader societal challenges related to religious intolerance and the targeting of visible minorities. Despite increased awareness and advocacy efforts, the Sikh community continues to face significant safety concerns in their daily lives, whether walking near their places of worship, operating small businesses, or simply going about their routines while visibly expressing their religious identity.