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Local community members react to attacks on Sikh men

Sikh people in Kern County voicing their concerns
Posted at 8:25 PM, Aug 09, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-09 23:37:53-04

Members of the Bakersfield Sikh community react to the recent attacks here in the Central California. 

71-year-old Sahib Singh Natt was physically assaulted in Mateca, California Monday. Surveillance video shows two men kicking and spitting on Natt. 

"Everybody is scared, everybody is scared," Natt said. 

On July 31st, Sarjit Singh Malhi was attacked in Turlock, California. 

Malhi's attacker told him, "Go back to you country" then physically attacked him. 

Now Sikh community members in Kern County are reacting to those vicious attacks. 

"We are concerned with these attacks that have been happening to our elders. I mean this could happen anywhere, even in Stone Creek Park."

Similar incidents happened here in Bakersfield. In October 2016, a man was charged with hate crimes after yelling racial slurs and throwing a drink at a Sikh man. 

Avneet Sandhu, a local community member hopes to start a community neighborhood watch to help bring a sense of safety to the Sikh community. 

Sandhu hopes having more town halls will also bring awareness to the issue.