Police charge two young Sikhs in TIK TOK Brawl: UNITED SIKHS steps up with Legal Aid

POLICE CHARGE TWO YOUNG SIKHS IN TIK TOK BRAWL IN HARRIS PARK, WEST SIDNEY

1st  October, 2020

Sydney, Australia 

On 29th August, 2020, a video posted on TIK TOK showed 20-30 young men fighting on or near Wigram Street in the Harris Park part of West Sidney, Australia and the video went viral.  See here. 

According to news reports, the Paramatta Police Area Command appeared at the scene of the fight and did not make any arrests right away. Two hours later, two Sikh boys were arrested by the Penrith Police and charged in connection with the fight. 

The Sikh community is appalled by the criminal charges leveled, initially, against the two Sikh youths. UNITED SIKHS has been called upon to advocate for the young Sikh boys. More information will be available when the case goes to the court on the 6th of October.

The boys have pleaded not guilty and the Punjabi and Haryanvi communities have condemned the riot but the Sikh community is concerned that the police may have targeted the two Sikh youths.  

The youth provided the following statements:

Youth # 1:

“I was shocked to discover the charges that I was facing and didn’t know where to turn. I am grateful that UNITED SIKHS not only reached out but provided me consistent support to help me in this legal battle.”

Youth # 2:

“This issue was blown up all over social media and people started to assume and make preconceived judgements. I was facing pressure from multiple angles and am thankful that UNITED SIKHS didn’t just come to offer advice. They came to guide, provide resources and have given me support since the beginning,”

UNITED SIKHS is a not-for-profit charitable organization that promotes  the United Nations’ charter and preambles. Our mission is to transform, alleviate, educate, and protect the lives of Sikhs and of underprivileged individuals from minority communities and to defend against the violations of their civil and human rights.  

UNITED SIKHS is working with the Sikh youths and their families to provide them with the best legal defense possible to ensure justice and we need your support.  

We ask that the Sikh community come forward and contact the Penrith Police Departments’ administration and the Hon. Geoff Lee, NSW Acting Minister for Multiculturalism, Department of Family and Community Services and Justice to ensure fair and equitable treatment for the two Sikh youths. “We are here to ensure that proper legal procedures are adhered to,” states Gurvinder Singh, UNITED SIKHS Director of Advocacy in Australia.  The objective is for justice to be served and to ensure that the incident is handled without further discrimination against Sikhs in Sidney.  The Sikh community must show unity and strength,” he said. 

If you experience hate crime, bullying, harassment or discrimination based on your faith or creed, gender, race or national origin, please reach out to UNITED SIKHS at law-australia@unitedsikhs.org. 

By: Gundeep Singh, Media Coordinator 

UNITED SIKHS