Source: The Arizona Republic

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/local/9_16_02mesa.html

On September 16, 2002, The Arizona Republic reported that "the family of Balbir Singh Sodhi held a memorial program Saturday to honor the slain Sikh and other backlash victims stemming from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks... About 500 attended the Balbir Singh Sodhi Embrace Diversity Memorial Event at Mesa's Red Mountain Park... Since Sodhi's death, 16 other backlash deaths have been reported in the United States. Sodhi's and other victims' relatives were at the event, which drew guests from India and representatives from the U.S. Justice Department."