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N
E W S June
8, 2003: AZ The individuals responsible for the apparently hate-motivated attack against Avtar Singh in Phoenix are still at large. Two funds have been established following the shooting. Singh's family is facing financial hardship as a result of this crime because he does not have health insurance and will be unable to work for a while. The community can contribute to the family fund by sending donations directly to the following address: FUND FOR AVTAR SINGH, A SIKH HATE CRIME A second fund has been established by the Phoenix Police Department through the Silent Witness Reward program, aimed at encouraging witnesses to come forth anonymously with information that may lead to an eventual arrest and conviction of the shooting suspects. Contributions to the Silent Witness Reward fund can be made through an online donation to SMART, or by sending donations directly to the following address: SIKH COMMUNITY AID FUND On May 23, responding to requests from local and federal authorities, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national Sikh advocacy group, conducted awareness training for law enforcement officials following the shooting of Avtar Singh. Approximately 35 individuals gathered at the Phoenix Police Department headquarters to attend the awareness training, entitled Sikhism 101: An Introduction to Sikh Beliefs, History, and Culture. Attendees included representatives from the police department, state attorney general's office, the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service (CRS), and members of the local Sikh community. The training was also attended by representatives from local chapters of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the National Conference on Community and Justice (NCCJ). On May 28, leaders of national Sikh, Arab and Muslim organizations met with FBI Director Robert Mueller in Washington D.C. to further discuss partnerships with the community and the possible development of an advisory committee that would coordinate efforts at state and national levels. The meeting was a follow-up to the February 28 meeting and took place a week after the shooting. "While we appreciate Director Mueller's initiative to meet with us," said Manjit Singh of SMART, "we want to ensure that preventative measures to reduce hate crimes take place hand-in-hand with investigation and prosecution, especially in light of the [recent] Phoenix incident." This meeting was the fourth in a series between the director
and the leaders of national Muslim, Sikh and Arab-American organizations,
though not all of them have been publicized. Others attending the meeting
were representatives of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee,
the Arab American Institute, the Islamic Institute, the American Muslim
Council, and the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
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