I haven’t yet written about the death of Satendar Singh, a young man who died as a result of injuries on July 5th here in Sacramento. I haven’t written because of the media furor and the extreme opinions on both sides of this case. I thought anything I had to say would add fuel to the proverbial fire. But now I have to say something, because I opened my mailbox today.

Currents, which touts itself as an “Asian Pacific American Newspaper Serving Sacramento and Yolo Counties” and which normally arouses my interest by discussing local cultural events and festivals, leads its September 2007 issue with the headline: “Satendar Singh Killed in Hate Crime.”

I find it amazing that the people who supposedly are serving the community already know the entire story behind the death of Singh. They know it was a hate crime. They know the young men accused are members of an anti-gay evangelical group–but wait, aren’t most evangelical groups anti-gay? (Doesn’t make it right, but it’s certainly not “new” or unusual.) In fact, the staff at Currents is so responsible, they printed the photos of the two “Russian-speaking” individuals who are being implicated in Singh’s death. One of the individuals, who is “at large” and suspected to be in Russia, has a WANTED sign over his head. Perhaps we can round up a lynch mob and get a posse ready to dispense some knee-jerk justice here? Oh yeah, he’s allegedly in Russia–so if you see him…?

None of this changes the fact that there was a tragedy and that a young man is dead. I will not minimize the horrible loss to the Singh family. But one man’s death does not justify condemning an entire community for the crime or accident, depending on who you choose to believe.

This entire article smacks of racism and xenophobia, aside from blatant fear-mongering. They don’t even have papers to sell (it is a free newspaper)–so the continued sensationalism can’t be attributed to the holy dollar.

Here are the photos, folks, of the guys who might kill you. Watch out for anyone who speaks Russian. They’re all killers and gay-bashers.

How nice that these Russian-speaking people will get a fair trial, and that there won’t be any bias here….I mean, after all, they’ve only been labeled as murderers, hate-mongerers, and gay-bashers. Where does the Currents staff get its facts? Was their staff at the park that day? Do we have an eye witness in the crowd?

I find the sensationalism with which this story is reported disturbing, and have to speak up. It smacks of the same kind of stereotyping that goes on towards Muslims, Palestinians, and African-Americans. No, Russian-speaking people don’t all look the same, don’t all think the same, and don’t all act the same.

To suggest otherwise is a blatant disregard of the truth, which no one knows right now. No one knows what the whole truth is, and I can only hope that our justice system will defend the rights of all Americans, including those who are from a minority group. This is something I think the Asian Pacific American Newspaper may have forgotten. As Californians, and Sacramentans, we’ve all become minorities, and no minority deserves more respect than another.

Let’s let our justice system do its job, and not pollute the jury before they get a chance to hear the stories of both sides. I truly hope that there will be a fair trial. After all, that’s what we tell the world we do. Let’s live up to our words for once. Let’s be the country we have marketed to the entire world, and be fair. We can do this, here in Sacramento. But it has to start with each of us. Even a small community newsletter can make a difference.

And if the trial (by some small miracle) turns out to be fair and these men are convicted of a willful crime, then let them serve their punishment. Let them speak their piece, before we loop the noose around their necks. It’s the right thing to do.