American Sikhs Reach Out, Educate about their Faith

September 23, 2001

Source: The Kansas City Star

On September 23, 2001, The Kansas City Star reported on the outreach of Sikhs in the local community. "To combat the intolerance, church members held an informational rally Saturday in front of their temple in Shawnee. They handed out American flags and cans of Coca-Cola and talked about their religion, which dates to more than 500 years ago in northern India." The article quoted one member of the Sikh community as saying, "'I could shave off my beard and wear a baseball cap instead of my turban, but am I afraid of my fellow Americans? I go out as proud as a peacock. I'm an American. This is my country.'" Kansas Senator Sam Brownback was in attendance.