Tuesday, July 22nd 2008 - More than 100 Sikhs and supporters of the Sikh community marched through the streets of Richmond Hill.

The five-day suspension handed out to a Richmond Hill High School student who attacked a Sikh classmate was extended to more than four months after pressure from the Sikh community.

But members of that community would like to see the city do more to protect them and educate others about their religion.

On June 3, Jagmohan Singh Premi, 18, was punched in the face by a student holding keys between his knuckles. The punch resulted in an orbital fracture, the keys narrowly missing Premi's eye.

School officials initially suspended Premi's attacker for five days, but after protests from the Sikh Coalition and the community, the punishment was extended to 89 days.

"I think a suspension is fine, and it's important," said Amardeep Singh, executive director of the Sikh Coalition. "But I think it's more important to take educational steps to make sure everyone understands who Sikhs are in school, not just focusing on one individual."

The attack on Premi was just one of many on Sikh students. Even after the Richmond Hill incident, assaults are still happening in city schools, advocates say.

The Sikh community continues to feel misunderstood, noting a belief among some non-Sikhs that Sikhs are terrorists. Two years ago, another Sikh student from Queens was called "Osama" and teased. Others have had their hair cut off by angry classmates. 

The Sikh Coalition, an organization born after 9/11 to counter discrimination and bigotry, has been trying to make sure that Richmond Hill residents learn about the Sikh faith.

The Department of Education has also created the "Respect for All" policy, which prohibits any harassment related to race, color and religion in schools.

But Sikh advocates say little has changed.

"The people feel bad when their kid goes to school and these crimes happen," said Amrik Singh, 62, a Sikh storeowner in Richmond Hill. "We want to solve the problem. We want to tell the whole community to pray for the whole community, for the whole world."

On June 30, more than 100 Sikhs and supporters of the Sikh community marched through the streets of Richmond Hill. In front of Richmond Hill High School, student victims of abuse spoke out alongside adult advocates, for a stronger response from the city.

"We're here today because we're basically fed up," said Amardeep Singh, who led the rally. "The school officials have been very good with trying to create a system to track and monitor bias. What they haven't done is create a plan to protect Sikh kids in particular.

"Our biggest focus right now is making sure that everyone knows who Sikhs are, why they keep their hair long and why they wear turbans, knowing that it might reduce tension to take steps on our own," said Amardeep Singh.

The Sikh Coalition also produced a movie about Sikh customs that aired last month on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network, and uploaded an awareness-raising video on YouTube.

The video, "This Is Why Sikhs Are Hot," has had more than 38,000 views.

It has a serious message topped with a fun veneer, a nonaggressive way to help explain Sikh customs.

Meanwhile, Sikh residents continue to feel threatened.

"I feel bad because of the discrimination in America," said storeowner Amrik Singh. "This is America losing something. They're losing reputation. The reputation is the one bank balance. When you lose something every day from the bank balance, you are poor."

By Anna Bernstein and Evan Wood - Children's Pressline
Additional reporting by Oliver Gonzalez, Cherry Kim, Daranee Nasonkhla, Maurice  Parker, Shaakira Parker and Nitzia Scott