Patriotism Gone Wrong

Sikh community in Mesa, Ariz. comes together to remember hate-crime victim

By John Scott Lewinski
Special to AsianWeek

The shadows cast by the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., spread their gloomy cloud across the U.S. — and fell tragically in Mesa, Ariz. Now, just as those metropolitan monoliths fight to recover from their wounds, so must that quiet suburb outside Phoenix.

Four days after the terrorist assault on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Balbir Singh Sodhi — by all accounts an innocent, good-natured and hardworking man — was shot to death while working at the gas station and convenience store he owned in Mesa.

After an urgent investigation amidst the stirring rage generated by the al Qaeda attacks, local police arrested Mesa resident Frank Roque, 42, and charged him with first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon. On the same day as the Sodhi murder, Roque also shot at a gas station owned by Saad Saad, 35, a Lebanese American. Fortunately, no one was wounded during the second attack. After being found mentally competent to stand trial, Roque was later convicted and sentenced to death.

The crime sent shockwaves across the United States and the world as wariness increased over possible revenge attacks against those of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent. News of Sodhi’s death even reached India’s government, and the nation’s embassy in D.C. issued an official statement communicating condolences to Sodhi’s family. India’s Prime Minister Vajpayee called on President Bush “to prevent any such crime against persons of Indian origin on the basis of mistaken identity.”

According to Mesa prosecutors’ reports, Roque was so furious after Sept. 11 that he repeatedly told his wife that “all Arabs should be shot,” and mounted continual tirades against Muslims. Afraid that her husband might resort to violence, she tried to hide his firearms.

Unfortunately, Roque managed to arm himself and spent Sept. 15, 2001, driving his black Chevrolet S10 pick-up around Mesa until he found Sodhi standing outside his store. It was a crime of opportunity. Sodhi was at the wrong place at the wrong time — facing a man who, by his own words, sought revenge against Muslims.

But Sodhi was not a Muslim. Born in a small village in India, Sodhi was a Sikh. His religion called for a turban as a sign of his faith. But all Roque saw was an olive-skinned man in a head wrap.

Even though Roque now sits on death row, no Arizona authority ever officially termed the attack a hate crime. However, the angry racist undercurrent of the crime makes Roque’s intentions clear. According to police reports, Roque told police when arrested that “all Arabs had to be shot'” and that he intended to “slit some Iranians’ throats.”

Even following his conviction and sentencing, Roque remained steadfast, screaming in court, “I’m an American! I’m a damn American all the way! Arrest me! Let those terrorists win!”

Mesa, Ariz., police detectives look over the crime scene following a shooting at a Mesa convenience store, Sept. 15, 2001.

Roque went hunting for Muslim terrorists. Instead he found a Sikh storeowner who excelled in his work, loved his family and enjoyed the companionship of countless friends across the community. Sodhi moved to the United States a decade ago and worked as a taxi driver in San Francisco before moving to Phoenix to open his Chevron store in 2000. According to Chevron’s recognition of its fallen employee, he had an exemplary work ethic and earned a perfect score on the qualifying test for prospective station owners.

Countless neighbors and store frequenters said Sodhi was always polite and friendly, occasionally sneaking a free piece of candy to visiting children. He even allowed oft-dreaded skateboarding teens to hang around his store if they behaved themselves.

A husband and father, Sodhi immigrated to the U.S. with three of his sons, ages 22, 24 and 27, to provide a better income for his family in India. According to Ek Ong Kaar K. Khalsa, a representative for Mesa’s Sikh community, Sodhi was planning a return to India in November 2001, to live with his youngest son and wife. Now, the family in India is trying to get visas to come to the United States to join Sodhi’s sons.

It has been a very painful period for the Sikh family as Sukhpal Singh Sodhi, brother of the slain Mesa man, was killed in San Francisco while driving his cab. Police do not believe that his murder was race-related.

Balbir Singh Sodhi died representing his faith with his traditional head wrap, and Guru Roop Kaur Khalsa, cleric at the Sikh temple in Phoenix, remembers Sodhi as a devout Sikh who hosted weekly dinners for fellow worshipers in Mesa.

As Mesa struggles to heal from Sodhi’s senseless murder, some good eventually came from his death. Following the shooting, the Sikh community in Mesa rallied as never before, peacefully coming together to remember their fallen brother and to call attention to the hatred that caused his death. Sodhi’s store became a monument, with flowers and other impromptu offerings decorating its exterior as the Sikh community recognized Sodhi as a martyr to his faith.

According to Khalsa, recognition soon spread through Mesa as Christians, Jews, Muslims and other faiths came together for several Sodhi memorials and tolerance awareness gatherings.

Khalsa said, “More than 4,000 citizens of all races and faiths joined together on Sept. 22 at the Civic Plaza in Phoenix to remember him and to call for peace — to keep their hearts open to one another. The Civic Plaza never saw such a gathering.”

So, even in death, Sodhi has found a way to bring the diverse members of his community together.

To honor his memory, and to provide for his wife and children, Mesa’s Sikh community established a Balbir Singh Sodhi Memorial fund. Those interested in making a donation may contact: balbirsingh@sikhnet.com or 1 (602) 288-1550.