WASHINGTON: Sikh community has welcomed the verdict of Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, being declared guilty of killing George Floyd, a black man. Chauvin kept Floyd’s neck under his knee for more than 9 minutes last year, killing George Floyd and sparking a national and global reckoning about race and police brutality in America.
Dr. Rajwant Singh along with the Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde, bishop of Washington at Washington National Cathedral and with Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, who heads the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church.
In remarks after the verdicts, President Joe Biden spoke of how Floyd’s legacy should be about peace rather than violence.
“It’s my hope and prayer that we live up to the legacy, ” the president said, with Vice President Kamala Harris standing nearby. “This can be a moment of significant change.”
Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, said, "Finally the right decision by the jury! This nation and the world is assured that justice does prevail. This case will be a lightning rod to prevent unjustifiable killings of African-Americans in this country in the hands of rogue police officials.”
He added, “ Sikhs are praying for the family of George Floyd. This has been a painful ordeal for the family and for all blacks in this country.”
Dr. Singh further stated, “We fully support President Biden’s efforts to push for meaningful police reform to prevent such cold killings by irresponsible security officers. This verdict is just the first step and we must push hard to cure the systemic racism prevalent in our institutions.
He further added, "Our criminal justice system remains deeply flawed. Black people disproportionately remain victims of police brutality. It is our prayer that we all work towards a safer society where justice is applied equally irrespective of socio-economics, race, religion or gender.
Sikhs across American took part in the demonstrations after the killing of George Floyd last year.
Dr. Rajwant Singh representing Sikh faith in an interfaith prayer for justice and equality at St. John’s Episcopalian Church in Washington in front of White House last year after the killing of George Floyd. Prayers, chants, singing and preaching from Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian faith leaders was the highlight of the event on June 14, 2020.
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II alongside with Dr. Rajwant Singh and other faith leaders, speaks outside of the St. John's Episcopal Church Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. on June 14, 2020.
Dr. Rajwant Singh reciting the Sikh prayer at this interfaith gathering for prayerful calls for racial equality in light of protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd