Sikh trucker accuses Oregon police of abuse

Some members of the Yuba-Sutter Sikh community are outraged over an alleged racial profiling and beating of a Yuba City Sikh truck driver by an Oregon State Police officer Wednesday. Gurpal Singh Gill, 44, said he was driving a truckload of produce from Stockton to Tacoma, Wash., when he was pulled over by a state police officer, cuffed and then beaten near the city of Roseburg in southwestern Oregon. Gill said he suffered scrapes to his face and shoulders and pain in his lower back from the incident. He also had a ceremonial knife, called a kirpan, taken from him, he said. "This is a gross violation of his fundamental rights," said Harbans Sraon, a fellow Sikh who translated for Gill Friday at the Appeal-Democrat office in Marysville. "The Sikh community is very offended." The Punjabi-American Heritage Society and the Sikh Coalition are considering legal action against the officer for the incident, according to Dr. Jasbir Kang, a member of the Society. [more ]

Comments

[Mark A. Laws]

It bothers me greatly that just because an individual looks different not only because he or she is brown but follows their faith in all things including the wearing of the traditional headwear should be subjected to actions of hostility. Sure, modern times may dictate that such an individual may have an "agenda" that could promote fear of , if you will, terrorist activity, it is incumbant upon the people of the majority sector to show some much needed strength to exercise restraint. I am a so- called trucker and I routinely see people of differect backgrounds "sikhs" being scowled at as if they were a subversive factor in the scheme of things, which may be understandable to a point........but please have the courage and the decency to to help these people by acknowlege these people and their honorable efforts as part of the trucking community and STOP being a Pavlov Dog that feel they must react in a negative way. Stupidity (narrow views) are rampant among drivers including racism as some of you know, and it is both hurtful and virulent and serves no forward cause for improvement in general.Please try to understand what LOVE is. It is not an easy task for the narrow minded, but so easy for those who experience the results. It is rewarding for all concerned and more than serves the greater good......this goes for sikhs, as well as other examples of the genre'. Next time you are in a bad mood and want to take it out on somebody different.....talk to them about it and make it a better day rather than entertain your hatred.......show some manly guts..overcome.....live happier.