Come to court hearing on Asian American Satender Singh who died from Hate Attack! September 26, 2007

Dear friends of the community,

- Join us at the hate crime hearing of Aleksandr Shevchenko, one of those responsible for the tragic killing of Asian American Satender Singh who was innocently picnicking with friends at Lake Natomas!
- Show your concern by coming out Wednesday, September 26th 8:30 am at the Sacramento County Courthouse Department #4 located at 720 9th Street between G. and H. Streets!
- Call for justice for Satendar and to oppose future hate crimes in our community.

Thank you for your support.

Linda Ng, President
OCA Sacramento

————————————————————————–
Come to the Court Hearing Wed., Sept. 26th 8:30 am!
Asian American Satender Singh Dies from Hate Attack!

What could be more reasonable than wanting to have a picnic with your friends in a public park? This apparently simple outing turned tragic for 26 year old Satender Singh who was part of a group of 7 Fijian and South Asian Americans as a crowd of Russian immigrants started insulting them with anti-Asian and anti-gay slurs (“7-11 workers, faggot, sodomites”, etc.) on July 1st at Lake Natomas. Though Singh’s group tried to avoid trouble, the other group called for reinforcements, attacked them, punching Singh who fell, hit his head, and drifted into a comma. Four days later he died.

This attack came amidst the backlash against South Asians, Muslims and Arab Americans ignorantly scapegoated by some for the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the war in Iraq. Additionally, several evangelical Slavic churches in the Sacramento area have been protesting against, harassing, and threatening gays during gay pride days and at high school events.

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department arrested one suspect, Aleksandr Shevchenko (22), while another, Andrey Vusik (29), fled to Russia. Family members of the two suspects, in a classic tactic, are ridiculously blaming Satender’s group for provoking the violent attack.

When we attended a memorial service in Capital Park and later Satender’s funeral, we heard from his many friends and extended family, understanding that Satender was a good, kind, and fun-loving young man. Like innocent Japanese Americans blamed for Japan’s December 7th bombing of Pearl Harbor, bigots targeted him as a member of an unpopular ethnic group and for perceptions that he might have been gay. Since Satender’s parents in the Fiji Islands were too poor to ship his body back to the country of his birth, many of us at the memorials gladly contributed to help with the costs.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time such hate has struck our community. In 1993 hate-mongers fire bombed the Sacramento NAACP, Sacramento JACL, Temple B’nai Israel, and City Councilman Jimmy Yee’s home. In 1999, firebombs again rained down on three Jewish Temples and bullets ended the lives of a gay Redding couple.

As in the past, the community has again stood up to hate. A “Satender Justice Coalition” sprung from this concern, organized by Asian Pacific Islander leaders from the CAPITAL Coalition, gay/lesbian community, political reps like Senator Darrell Steinberg and Assemblyman Dave Jones, OCA Sacramento, and many others.

Through past experience, we know the importance of a strong community presence calling for justice. During the 1993 firebombing trial, members of the Japanese, Chinese, Jewish, and African American communities attended every hearing and trial date; organized educational programs, and rallied at City Hall. The legal system has seldom protected the rights of unpopular minorities unless the community has demanded it.

The court has scheduled a preliminary hearing for suspect Shevchenko for Wednesday, September 26th 8:30 am at the Sacramento County Courthouse Department #4 located at 720 9th Street between G. and H. Streets. Be there from approximately 8:15 to 9:30 am to catch the hearing. There is street parking nearby and a public lot with entrance at the corner of 7th and G. Streets. Won’t you come out to show your concern?

For further information, please contact Linda Ng at (916) 996.3770. People have also set up a website with valuable background on Satender’s case at: www.satender.com.