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Former Attacker Begins Community
Service at Glen Cove and Plainview Gurudwaras By Expressing
Regret to Sangat and Taking Down Bias Incident Reports
(Long Island, New York) April 28, 2004 - A judge in Nassau
County, New York has ordered a man who harassed a Sikh last
year in Long Island to perform twenty hours of community service
with the Sikh Coalition.
As a part of this service Mr. Brand has worked at the
Sikh Coalition's office over the past few weeks. During
this time he has learned more about the Sikh people and
their faith. In addition he has created a new bias incident
reporting and is visiting local gurdwaras to gather reports
of bias from members of the sangat.
"I apologize
for what happened with Gurpreet. I have learned
a great deal about your culture and beliefs over
the past weeks, they are beautiful… In a way I believe
this has been a blessing in disguise for me… I have
had an opportunity to learn about Sikhs and do what
I can to end bias against you"
-Thomas Brand
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Mr. Brand and Gurpreet
Singh address the sangat together |
Mr. Brand records bias reports from member of the
sangat |
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On March 2, 2003, Thomas Brand
harassed Gurpreet Singh, a twenty-five year old technology
consultant from Syosset, New York, while they were riding
on the Long Island Railroad. Mr. Brand put his finger on
Gurpreet Singh's chest and said "Get off the train."
An off duty New York City police
officer, Stephen Hughes, confronted Mr. Brand, asking him
to leave Gurpreet Singh alone. According to Newsday, Mr.
Brand said to Mr. Hughes, "Why are you defending him?
All these foreigners, that's the problem." Mr. Hughes
replied, ""Why don't you go to the next train
and relax. Leave it alone."
Mr. Brand plead guilty to the
aggravated harassment charge in February 2004. At Gurpreet
Singh and the Sikh Coalition's request, the judge in the
matter sentenced Mr. Brand to perform anti-bias community
service with the Sikh Coalition.
 The
past two Sundays, Mr. Brand appeared at the Mata Sahib Kaur
Gurdwara (Glen Cove, New York) and Guru Gobind Singh Sikh
Center (Plainview, New York) to perform community service.
Standing before the sangat, next to Gurpreet Singh, Mr.
Brand expressed sincere regret for attacking him. Mr. Brand
said, "I regret what happened with Gurpreet.... I have
learned a great deal about your culture and beliefs over
the past weeks, they are beautiful… In a way I believe this
has been a blessing in disguise for me… I have had an opportunity
to learn about Sikhs. I want to do what I can to end bias
against you."
After eating langar with the
sangat, Mr. Brand collected bias crime reports from the
sangat. These reports will be used to create a larger report
on bias against Sikhs in Long Island. Mr. Brand will perform
similar community service at the Sikh Forum, in Plain View,
Long Island and the Baba Makhan Shah Lubanah Gurdwara over
the coming weeks.
The Coalition thanks Mr. Brand
for his sincere effort to undo the damage caused by his
attack on Gurpreet Singh. If you have been the victim of
a crime motivated by prejudice, please report it at: http://www.sikhcoalition.org/ListReports.asp
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