The Sikh Coalition was born in the aftermath of bigotry, violence and discrimination against the city's Sikh population following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We began as a volunteer effort on the night of September 11, 2001, when an elderly Sikh and two teenagers were violently attacked in Richmond Hill, Queens in “reprisal” attacks by fellow Americans. The group that became the Sikh Coalition issued a press release the next day under the organizational title “Coalition of Sikh Organizations of New York” condemning the terrorist attacks and calling on police to better protect our neighborhoods.