ADL Welcomes Guilty Pleas in 2010 Hate Crime Against Sikh Cab Driver in West Sacramento

SAN FRANCISCO, March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) Central Pacific Region, covering all of Northern California, welcomes yesterday's entry of guilty pleas to hate crime charges in the vicious assault in West Sacramento on Harbhajan Singh, a cab driver and member of the Sikh community, in November, 2010.  The two assailants, Pedro Ramirez and Johnny Morales, reportedly made references to Osama Bin Laden while beating and robbing Mr. Singh.  Ramirez, who played a larger role in the attack, will be sentenced to thirteen years, while Morales, whose role was smaller, faces one year in jail.

"We are grateful to the West Sacramento Police Department and the Yolo County District Attorney's Office for investigating this crime and securing these pleas.  Their hard work sends the clear message that vicious, hate-motivated attacks will not go unpunished," stated Daniel S. Sandman, Regional Director for ADL.  "We hope that these pleas will assure members of the Sikh community that their civil rights will be protected."

The pleas come in the wake of another horrific assault on members of the Sikh community in which two elderly Sikh gentlemen were shot, one fatally, while out for a walk in Elk Grove. Police and FBI are currently investigating the shooting as a potential hate crime.  We urge anyone with information about it to contact the authorities.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti- Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

SOURCE Anti-Defamation League

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