RCMP investigate after BC Sikh temple vandalized with racist graffiti

Nov 23 2018, 6:10 am

Community members are rallying with a BC Sikh Temple that was vandalized with racist graffiti earlier this week.

Congregation attending the Gurdwara Guru Amardas Darbar Sikh Society in Kelowna discovered the graffiti on November 19.

“It is disappointing that these sorts of incidents continue to take place. We believe it is ignorance and fear that drives racism and the Sikh community will continue to reach out to educate and build bridges despite incidents like this,” said World Sikh Organization (WSO) vice-president for BC and Kelowna resident Amanpreet Singh Hundal, in a statement.

According to the WSO, the temple was also the target of vandalism once before but police were not contacted when that incident occurred.

RCMP were notified about the most recent incident and confirmed that “the investigation into the mischief to religious property remains ongoing at this time.”

“Police will be conducting a review of video footage captured on nearby surveillance cameras,” Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey with Kelowna RCMP told Daily Hive.

“Whoever vandalized the gurdwara would have been better served to actually learn more about Sikh community by going inside the gurdwara to ask questions and enjoying the free meal available to all visitors,” said Hundal.

“Kelowna is our home and racist incidents like this won’t phase us.”

The WSO and Kelowna RCMP are requesting anyone with information to contact police at 250-762-3300 and cite police file #2018-71497.

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