Some observers say the act and others like it have less to do with religious or ethnic bigotry and more to do with South Asian politics playing out on the local stage.
on a digital billboard in Times Square. The politics attached to the incidents were not lost on many in the local South Asian community.Photo by Harriet Brocket / Shutterstock
As alleged, the defendant, along with several unapprehended others, committed a disgraceful act of violence against a Mahatma Gandhi statue that has become a universal symbol of peace, unity and inclusivity. Hate and bias-motivated attacks have no place in our communities and my office will hold such perpetrators accountable.Aminta Kilawan-Narine, an attorney and co-founder of Sadhana, the Coalition of Progressive Hindus, said she was “infuriated” when she heard about the attack.
Singh is currently free and has another court appearance in December. Calls to his attorney were not returned. According to the complaint, Singh acknowledged meeting with six to eight friends on the night of Aug. 16, and having drinks. After the incident, state Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar gathered with other elected officials and called for the incident to be investigated as a hate crime.
However, for prosecutors to obtain a conviction on the hate crime charge, Pezzella said they’ll need to prove that Singh engaged in violence that was “anti-ethnic or anti-religious,” rather than political violence.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Southeast Asian leaders call for unity amid global tensionsPHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodian leader Hun Sen called for unity Sunday, telling a gathering including Russia, China and the United States that current global tensions have been taking a toll on everyone.
Read more »
Biden huddles with Asian allies on NKorea threat, ChinaPresident Joe Biden is set to meet Sunday with the leaders of Japan and South Korea to coordinate their response to North Korea's threatening nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Read more »
Asian benchmarks mixed as markets eye COVID, inflation risksAsian shares are mixed as momentum fades from last week’s rally on Wall Street amid varied sentiments about coronavirus restrictions easing in China and global interest rate increases.
Read more »
Biden pledges US will work with Southeast Asian nationsPresident Joe Biden says the United States will work with a strategically vital coalition of southeast Asian nations to build a region that is free, stable, prosperous and secure.
Read more »