FRESNO (KMJ) — A self described stay-at-home-mom from the valley has taken upon herself to set an example for her son by helping a Sikh man in need.
At the end of last year, Amrik Singh Bal was targeted in what Fresno Police and the FBI now consider a hate crime.
Investigators state that the attack took place close to the intersection of Shields and Brawley in West Fresno, on Saturday December 26th 2015.
“I was coming home from a holiday vacation with my family”, says Clovis mother Kathryn Saari. “It was a Saturday and I heard about Amrik being attacked by two white men.
“And a hate crime not only made me feel angry that it happened in my own community – it happened to a 68 year old man who works one of the hardest jobs in the San Joaquin Valley as a farm laborer”.
So she took it upon herself to raise money to help Amrik Singh Bal back on his feet.
“It made me angry, and it made me feel helpless and I didn’t know what to do. A friend recommended GoFundMe to set up a fundraiser to offset the costs of his medical bills and lack of income because he was laid up at home”.
On Tuesday, she gave him just under a thousand dollars in funds raised with the promise that anything more that came through would also find it’s way to him.
“I hope they catch the two men [responsible for the crime]. It doesn’t sound like they’ve caught them yet, there’s a $12,000 reward and I really hope somebody comes forward with some information”.
Thus far, no information has been released on an arrest of either suspect. They are described as white, just under 6ft tall, and between 20 to 25 years old.
“I want my son to learn how to respect his neighbors and how to respect and accept cultural diversity”, continues Saari. “That’s what life’s about”.
A link to the GoFundMe page to help Singh Bal can be found clicking here.
