Survey To Gauge Hate Crimes Against Sikhs In South Richmond Hill

SOUTH RICHMOND HILL, QUEENS -- If you're a member of Queens' Sikh community who's religion has subject you to hate crimes, bullying or discrimination, one United Nations group wants to hear from you.

United Sikhs, an international charity with a U.S. chapter is South Richmond Hill, on Tuesday launched its 2018 Global Civil Rights Survey to gauge the hate crimes and discrimination waged against Sikhs locally and globally, and they need your help to do it.

The nonprofit, which advocates for civil and human rights across the globe, is offering the survey through August online through its website, Facebook and Twitter pages or in-person at its South Richmond Hill office at 101-05 Lefferst Blvd.

Participants will be asked to answer general questions about their background and nationality before filling out four yes-or-no questions about whether or not they've experienced discrimination, bullying or attacks for being Sikh. They will also be asked to select what they feel are the most important issues facing Sikhs today.

"United Sikhs is proud of the progress we have achieved on some of (the) key issues facing the Sikh community, especially in the areas of cultural awareness, justice for hate crimes, and religious freedom for articles of faith in public sectors, such as law enforcement and the military," said United Sikhs Executive Director Hardayal Singh.

Amid the rising tally of hate crimes reported in the United States, the organization aims to push that progress forward at its Annual Advocacy and Humanitarian Aid Academy Summit. The focus of the July 8-13 conference in Washington D.C. will be largely molded by premature survey results, organizers said.

"With the launch of our annual Global Civil Rights Survey, we look forward to hearing directly from our community members, as we also recognize that more work still needs to be done," Singh said.

The study's full findings will be released in a report a month later during the organization's Sixth Annual Civil and Humans Rights Conference in Italy.

United Sikhs aims to advance the economic, social and spiritual empowerment of minorities and other marginalized groups in the Americas, Europe and Asia. The organization has a 11 chapters across the globe, including its U.S. office in South Richmond Hill, according to a spokesperson.

Click here to view the full 2018 Global Civil Rights Survey.

(Lead photo courtesy of United Sikhs)