The Sunday attack on a Sikh temple in the U.S. has many American Sikhs wondering if it is the latest and most deadly example of the persistent violence and hatred experienced by Sikhs since the attacks of 9/11. We look back on a decade of abuse Sikhs have suffered for no reason other than their appearance.

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Part Two of The Current

Sikh Hate Crimes - Brother of Victim of Hate Crime

We started this segment with a clip from a horrified bystander in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, unable to comprehend the mayhem at a Sikh temple that left six people dead and another three injured. The FBI calls it a possible case of domestic terrorism. The American Sikh community is stunned.

We aired a clip from the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin at a news conference yesterday. James Santelle was recalling the murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi. The 52-year-old gas station owner was shot five times by a man who believed Sikhs were somehow involved in violence against America.

Ever since then, Balbir Singh Sodhi's brother, Rana has been on a mission to share his brother's story -- and to educate Americans about Sikhs and their faith.
Rana Singh Sodhi joined us from his home in Phoenix, Arizona.

Sikh Hate Crimes - Civil Rights Attorney

We started this segment with part of a film called Divided We Fall, an award-winning documentary which chronicled a string of hate crimes across the United States in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. As you just heard, people of many backgrounds were the targets of angry, ignorant and deluded attacks. Many of the victims were Sikh.

Dawinder Sidhu is a civil rights attorney and the author of Civil Rights In Wartime: The Post-9/11 Sikh Experience. He was in Potomac, Maryland this morning.

This segment was produced by The Current's Andrea Cardillo.

Last Word - Martha Wainwright

In the days to come on The Current, we'll look at the trial of the Russian female punk band, Pussy Riot. The women are charged with hooliganism for performing an anti-Vladimir Putin song in a Russian Orthodox cathedral in Moscow. They face seven years in prison if convicted.

Today's Last Word goes to Canadian-American musician Martha Wainwright. She's one of many musicians who've signed a letter demanding the release of the band.

Other segment from today's show:

An Apology for the Doukhobors