Jaydeep Bhatia: In combatting hate crimes, we must be proactive

Re “Unease about white supremacy grows after Portland stabbings” (www.modbee.com, May 30): I wish I could say I was surprised when I read about our nation’s latest encounter with hate violence. As a Sikh American, I believe communities across the nation must be more proactive in the fight against hate crime.

In 2011, two Sikhs were murdered in Elk Grove in a suspected hate crime. Two years later, a Sikh was beaten with a steel pipe in Fresno. In 2015, a Sikh was assaulted yet again in the Central Valley. The Trump administration’s lackadaisical response to hate attacks against Muslims and Jews nationwide does not augur well for my community.

Instead of waiting for the next hate crime to happen, local leaders should make prevention a top priority. For example, our schools can implement anti-bullying programs to inoculate children against hate. Our police departments can work with religious communities to protect houses of worship. Our elected officials can create a hate crime task force in partnership with citizen groups to promote unity and a shared sense of mission in all of our communities. By working together in this way, we can overcome hate.

This story was originally published June 1, 2017 at 3:57 PM with the headline "Jaydeep Bhatia: In combatting hate crimes, we must be proactive."