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Peace and Justice Prevail for Sodhi Family
10/02/2003
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/1002thur1-02.html
Peace, justice prevail
Mesa jury displays American disgust for revenge and violence
Oct. 2, 2003 12:00 AM
Justice. So different from revenge.
Peace. So different from violence.
Revenge is what Mesa resident Frank Roque was looking for when, four days after Sept. 11, 2001, he shot and killed Sikh gas station owner Balbir Singh Sodhi for no apparent reason other than that he was brown-skinned and wearing a turban.
Inflamed by hate, fueled by alcohol, Roque went on a rampage, shooting at two Middle Eastern targets within a half-hour of killing Singh Sodhi.
At the time, some Americans, reeling from 9/11, worried that terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon would unleash a wave of attacks on people of Middle Eastern descent, those of the Muslim religion or foreigners in general.
They were wrong. The incidents were few and scattered. Americans understand the difference between Osama bin Laden and the brown-skinned neighbor.
Balbir Singh Sodhi wasn't at the World Trade Center. But he was a victim of hate and revenge nevertheless.
And Tuesday, justice prevailed. A jury in Mesa, deliberating less than three hours, found Roque, 44, guilty of first-degree murder.
Today, the jury will begin to consider whether Roque qualifies for the death penalty or whether he should be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Mark Aceto.
But the verdict on America, on Arizona, was delivered long ago by the outpouring of sympathy and compassion by so many Valley residents upon Singh Sodhi's death.
Within hours of his death, flowers, candles and makeshift signs of remorse filled the corner of 80th Street and University Drive in Mesa, the corner where he died.
Singh Sodhi, who immigrated from India in 1989, had been in Arizona only six months. But his decency and smile had endeared him to hundreds of his customers, including students at a nearby school.
Tuesday, Singh Sodhi's family rendered their verdict on America as well.
"This jury is showing the whole world that we are against hate. We will not tolerate hate in our community," affirmed Rana Singh Sodhi, one of the victim's brothers.
Another brother, Harjit, expressed it this way: "It's not Brown, Black or White. We are all one. Justice brings peace to everybody. We can go out in the streets without any fear."
From Mesa, Ariz., the spirit of America is on display. That jury stood for justice and peace, rejecting revenge and hate.
It was an eloquent, significant verdict from a group of ordinary Americans.
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