'My Turban Was My Helmet, It Saved Me,' Sikh Man Attacked In US Hate Crime
'My Turban Was My Helmet, It Saved Me,' Sikh Man Attacked In US Hate Crime "My turban really saved me", says a 50-year-old Sikh man who was beaten up multiple times by two white men in the US. Surjit Singh Malhi said he was putting out political signs for US Representative Jeff Denham, a Republican running for re-election, near his home in California when he was attacked by the two men who yelled racial slurs that "You're not welcome here!, Go back to your country!". "My turban really saved me," said Surjit Singh Malhi. He said his turban acted "like a helmet, but stronger." "The two men came up behind me and accosted me. They threw sand in my eyes so I could not see, he said, adding that they struck my head and back with what appeared to be a stick and a belt. "The way they were hitting me, (I thought) maybe I would die. You don't belong here," he said they told him. "The only reason (he was attacked), as far as we can tell, is because he was wearing a turban and he was Middle Eastern," Deputy Royjindar Singh said. "That was the only reason they attacked him." Malhi said everything happened quickly. He said he did not get a good look at the attackers, but told investigators they were two men wearing black sweatshirts, KCRA channel TV reported. "I never feel that way," he said. "I've never been mistreated like that." "I have a lot of friends," Malhi said. "I have no problem. I do not feel any racism against me ever. I have friends who are standing for me. They love me and I love them." "It's a despicable hate crime," the sheriff said. "There is no room for this in Stanislaus County or anywhere else in the United States of America." "Inciting violence because of race, religion or political beliefs should never be tolerated," Denham said. "This is the third incident in less than two weeks where a member of my team has been a target and it must come to an end." -PTC News
