Members of Sacramento-Region Sikh Community Call For Solidarity With Black Lives Matter Movement

Members of the region’s Sikh community held a rally in downtown Sacramento on Sunday in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. 

The rally included music, food and speeches from both Sikh and Black activists. A few dozen people attended the event at Cesar Chavez Plaza, which packed both energy and reflection.

Sukhmeen Kahlon of Sacramento organized the event. She’s not part of an activist group, but said she wanted to see more members of her Sikh community stand up for Black lives. 

“We wanted to get the Sikh community out to listen to the Black members of our community to find out how we could be better accomplices and allies to the community,” Kahlon said.

The event comes amid weeks of demonstrations against police violence and racial injustice in Sacramento and cities across the world following the death of George Floyd, who was killed by Minneapolis police in May. 

Several attendees, including Gurbir Goraya, said they know what it’s like face discrimination. 

“It’s important to stand up for people,” said GorayaI, who came to the rally with his two younger brothers. “I feel like we’ve been oppressed as well. 9/11 happened, people hated us. We understand what everyone’s been through. And I feel like, together we can stand up for each other and we’re always here to stand up for them.” 

Black activists, including Sonia Lewis of Black Justice Sacramento, also spoke at the event. 

She told the mostly young and socially-distanced crowd they can help by having conversations with their own families about supporting Black lives. 

“What I do know about the Sikh community is that you are a tight-knit community and family oriented,” Lewis said. “And so those conversations need to look like: ‘They are just like us.’ That’s a good start. ‘Black folks are just like us. Mom and dad, they just like us. Grandma and grandpa, they are just like us.”’

Manpreet Kaur, a recent high school graduate, said she planned to do just that.

“I plan on educating myself more on this and other people around me,” Kaur added.