After 9/11, a family’s forgiveness bridged hate
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In Mesa, Arizona, Balbir Singh Sodhi, a 49-year-old Sikh man, was fatally shot on September 15, 2001, becoming the first victim of a wave of hate crimes following the 9/11 attacks.
Mistakenly associated with al-Qaeda due to his turban, Sodhi was targeted in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. Years later, the Sodhi family reached out to Frank Roque, the man who killed Balbir, initiating contact around 2013-2014.
In 2016, a phone call between Rana Singh Sodhi, Balbir’s brother, and the incarcerated Roque led to an emotional exchange where Roque apologized for his actions and the family offered forgiveness, seeking peace for both sides. On the 25th anniversary of Balbir’s death, a memorial gathering in Mesa brought together people of various faiths, Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, and Christians, led by local officials.
Rana Singh Sodhi shared that prayers were offered not only for victims of hate violence but for all those who perished on 9/11. The Sodhi family, originally from Punjab, India, continues to own businesses in the United States and maintains contact with Roque’s family, hoping their story can inspire further change.
