Source: Yahoo! News/Sikh Awareness

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050713/daw007.html?.v=16

On July 13, 2005 a Sikh Awareness press release reported, "On July 19, 2005 the prime minister of India and a member of the Sikh faith, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will address the U.S. Congress, marking the first trip to the United States by an Indian prime minister since 9/11. As a Sikh, Dr. Singh will be wearing a dastar, or turban, an essential symbol of the Sikh faith worn by all Sikh men and some Sikh women. Since the tragic events of 9/11, more than 400 hate crimes and bias incidents against Sikh-Americans have been reported. In most cases, Sikhs were targeted simply because they wear a turban... 'Prime Minister Singh's address to Congress will no doubt garner considerable media attention. His image will appear in newspapers, magazines and on news programs across the nation,' [said] G.P. Singh, another founding member of Sikh Awareness. 'Our hope is that by including a few facts about the Sikh faith in its coverage of Prime Minister Singh's visit, media can help drive awareness and understanding of the Sikh faith among the American public and lessen the likelihood of future prejudice or hate crimes against Sikh- Americans.'"