USA: February 27, 2017. (PCP) The American Sikh Council (ASC) [formerly known as World Sikh Council – America Region] is extremely distressed by the heinous murder of Srinivas Kuchibhotla a 32 year old engineer who was having a drink with his colleague at the Austin’s Bar and Grill in Olathe, Kansas on Thursday February 23, 2017. A reported white supremacist, Adam W. Purinton confronted Srinivas and stated, “Get out of my country!” This is another terrorist act carried out, due to the environment of heightened hate rhetoric created over the past year. Currently, the two injured men; namely the victim’s friend, Alok Madasani, 32, and bar patron Ian Grillot, 24, who suffered gunshot injuries from the perpetrator are still recovering. The American Sikh Council (ASC) sends its condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have been taken away by this unspeakable tragedy. We pray for a speedy and full recovery of the injured. Our prayers are with all the victims, their families, and local community. May the Almighty lighten your burden, and grace you with hope and healing under these very difficult circumstances. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of profound tragedy and grief. Such atrocious acts must be condemned in the strictest manner and the American Sikh Council (ASC) stands in solidarity with all civilized people. Religious and ethnic bigotry must be taken very seriously and condemned publicly by all the appropriate national faith organizations. Our government leadership and administration must take serious note of such hate crimes and immediately address them unbiasedly and in a swift manner. The fallout and repercussions of violence by radical white supremacists especially in America continues to have very serious consequences against many minorities through conflation, misidentification, ignorance and hate. While an extremely small minority within a very large majority are criminals, terrorizing minorities, it is imperative that the national Faith organizations not only speak up but reach out to others as well so that we can overcome this hatred by spreading the message of love and universal brotherhood. In this moment of sadness, let’s stand together shoulder by shoulder irrespective of color or religion and speak out together against hate and intolerance.