Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarts at Event Highlighting Recent Attacks Against Sikh Community

October 29, 2023

Mayor Eric Adams: Assemblywoman, you've been a real leader for these communities, specifically for the people of this city and state in general. And the role of mayor, I say over and over again, it is a substantive role and it is a symbolic role. Both of them must be fulfilled to its completion.

And the sword that you gave me is a symbol of how as the mayor I must be your protector. And when a member of your community is harmed, I take full responsibility for that. I cannot allow any community member to be harmed. It is my obligation to protect as I did as a police officer and as I am doing now as the mayor.

It is so ironic that my knowledge of what your turban represents. It represents your history of being a protector that is now being used as a target and a tool to seek out and harm your community. It is so important what Pastor Monrose stated as we communicated it on Monday after this terrible incident.

Jasmer should still be with us. He should still be with his son. He should still be living out the American dream, watching his son, who's now an immigration attorney. He should still be looking and part of this community. That dream turned into a nightmare the other day when his life was taken from us prematurely.

We must have a full frontal assault on ending hate on many different levels. One level is crucial for this community. What plays out across the globe by other doers is being attached to your community. We need to clearly educate people to what this community stands for and what you represent.

You are not about terror, you are about protecting. That is what needs to be taught throughout this entire city. Our young people need to know that, our adults need to know that. The rich history of this community, you have been an anchor in the Richmond Hill community. Your presence has uplifted this community. Your business needs. You believe in family. You believe in faith. You believe in public safety. You believe in protecting.

During Covid‑19, I was mystified by how every day you fed millions of people without asking their background, without asking their economic status, without asking their religions. I came here and watched in awe as you opened your doors when the hearts of many were closed. You were truly protectors during the most difficult time. It is our obligation to join you as you protect your community.
Assemblywoman Rajkumar has been clear, and she has represented you in Albany and in the streets of this city, that she is a partner with our law enforcement community and City Hall. We appreciate her partnership. You elected the first Punjabi woman and the first South Asian woman to Albany, and she's living up to the expectation. My commitment to you is to live up to the expectation of being your protector.

My heart breaks to see a prominent member of your community that was taken from us because of a violent act, a violent senseless act. I will commit myself to educate, to protect and to continuously be a part of this community. This community means so much to me. Throughout my campaign, I visited you often and I saw how much you contribute to this city.

To lose a member of your community in this magnitude is a stain on our entire city and nation, because the hate we are seeing, because your symbol of faith is not only localized to New York City, we are seeing similar acts across the entire country. And I was there on September 11th when you were under attack over and over again because of the lack of understanding of what your turban represents.
We must turn around that ignorance to understanding. Your turban does not mean terrorism. It means protecting, it means community, it means family, it means faith, it means city, it means us coming together. We will change the dialogue and narrative with you. We can do it together.

So, I'm here today to say to you, my brothers and sisters from the Sikh community, we are one, we are together. And I'll use the symbolism of this sword to continue what you have done for hundreds of years to be a protector, to be a fighter, to be a warrior for the peace and prosperity of our city. I thank you so much.

###