US: New Jersey's Sikh mayor receives 'life-threatening letters' targeting him, his family
PTC Web Desk: The Sikh mayor of Hoboken City in New Jersey, US, Ravi Bhalla, has reported receiving a series of hate-filled emails threatening him and his family if he does not resign from his position.
Ravi Bhalla, who became the first Sikh mayor of Hoboken City in New Jersy in November 2017, revealed that the first email, sent over a year ago, urged him to step down. The second email escalated to threats against his life, but it was the third email that was particularly alarming, stating that he and his family would be killed if he didn't resign.
In addition to these threats, Bhalla's neighbours, brother, and some colleagues also received packages containing sexually explicit and threatening materials during the same period. While the person responsible for these mailings was apprehended and charged, the individual behind the threatening emails remains unidentified.
To ensure Bhalla's safety, law enforcement agencies have provided him with 24-hour security, including protection for his two children while they are at school.
Bhalla, who has lived in Hoboken for 22 years, emphasised his commitment to standing up against hate, declaring that it is not welcome in the city. He takes pride in leading the city as an American of Sikh background.
It is worth noting that recent FBI data indicates that Sikhs continue to be the second most targeted group in religiously motivated hate crimes, with 198 recorded incidents of anti-Sikh hate crimes in 2022. Ravi Bhalla has a background as a civil rights lawyer and gained national recognition for his legal advocacy work, particularly related to his own constitutional and civil rights violations during a jail visit to a client.
- With inputs from agencies
