Members of California’s Sikh trucking community say a deadly crash involving one of its own has led to a spike in anti-Sikh rhetoric. The Aug. 12 crash and its subsequent investigations sparked heated national debates over immigration and stirred arguments between the governors of California and Florida. California is home to about half of U.S. members of the monotheistic religion. Many of them covet high-paying trucking jobs because they allow Sikh men to wear beards, uncut hair and turbans. Sikh advocacy groups say they’re mourning for the victims of the crash. They’re also demanding a fair trial for the driver and condemning anti-Sikh discrimination.
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Freight trucks travel northbound on Interstate 5 Highway, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Tracy, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Freight trucks travel northbound on Interstate 5 Highway, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Tracy, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Cargo containers are seen at a shipping terminal at the Port of Oakland on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)