Dr. Nijher Speaking Tour: Day 3

Friday, September 6, 2002
Day 3

Doctor Navinderdeep Singh Nijher continued his whirlwind Sikh Awareness Tour Friday with media events in Stockton and Sacramento, California. The doctor arrived around midnight after flying into San Jose from Los Angeles and then drove another 90 minutes to Stockton.

At 7 am Friday, Doctor Nijher was on the air in Stockton, doing a 20 minute live interview on KFIG Radio. Following the interview, Dr Nijher was the guest of the Stockton Sikh community at the Stockton Gurdwara. Dr. Nijher was presented with a Saropa at this Gurdwara which is the first built in the U.S. in 1915. The 9:00 am event was well attended by the Stockton area media, providing an excellent opportunity for some much needed education of Sikh issues in a very conservative agricultural area.

Republican State Senator Richard Monteith presented Dr. Nijher with a State Senate Proclamation for his "heroic" work at ground zero. Monteith called Dr. Nijher a "hero" and commended the Sikh community as "true Americans."

Following the presentation by Senator Monteith, Dr. Nijher was driven to Sacramento where he spoke to nearly 75 doctors and nurses about disaster preparedness planning.

Dr. Nijher was the guest of the Sacramento Sikh community. A leading Sikh physician of Roseville introduced Dr. Nijher to the doctors of the Sutter Roseville Medical Center. Another lengthy applause greeted Dr. Nijher after his presentation.

Prior to the event, the Doctor was interviewed by Fox Sacramento and the local Roseville newspaper. Dr. Nijher's presence allowed the local Sikh community to present the media with a local viewpoint of issues impacting the community.

Dr. Nijher was then driven to Sacramento's leading all news radio station, KFBK, where he did an extensive 15 minute interview, most of which will run on Sept 11th during the station's special programming. The visit to the station allowed the Sacramento Sikh community to also share their experiences with the greater Sacramento community.

After checking into a local hotel the doctor had dinner with the local community and retired at midnight after an exhausting day.

While in Sacramento, the Doctor will be visiting with the Jewish and Christian communities before departing for Houston, Washington DC and Boston.

Dr. Nijherís tour provides an ideal opportunity for the Sikh image and values to be clearly articulated to mainstream America. Newsweek and CBS News have recognized Dr. Nijher as a true American hero. He symbolizes the Sikh Americans' true sprit of courage under fire and putting one's life on the line to save others. For more information see
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/09/24/archive/main312265.shtml

The Sikh Communications Council (SikhCom) is an IRS recognized, 501c3 non-profit organization funded by the Sikh Community with the goal of educating the American public about Sikhs. Mr. Ed Vasquez (408-420-6558) of Sikh Communications is traveling with Dr. Nijher and coordinating all travel logistics, venue arrangements, press relations, press conferences and media coverage.