<p> New York police have arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with an attack on a Sikh professor last September and charged him with a hate crime.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Christian Morales was charged with aggravated harassment and committing a hate crime in the attack on Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs professor Prabhjot Singh, at a court appearance Saturday, Daily Columbia Spectator reported.<br /><br />While the investigation is still ongoing, Morales who was arrested late Friday night is the only person in custody, a New York Police Department spokesperson said.<br /><br />Singh, an observant Sikh who wears a turban and has a beard, was walking with a friend along 110th Street near Lenox Avenue in Harlem on the evening of Saturday, Sep 21, when he was approached by a group of around 20 young men, Spectator said.<br /><br />At the time, the men "made anti-Muslim statements and then they began punching the victim in the face." The attackers dispersed after three passersby called for help, the daily said citing the police.<br /><br />Despite suffering a broken jaw and bruising, Singh returned to work the following Tuesday.<br /><br />He was optimistic at a press conference held that Monday, where he said that he would invite his attackers to his place of worship and teach them about Sikhism, the newspaper recalled.<br /><br />"I think it's critical to see that this is not the community we expect, and certainly not the country we expect," Singh was quoted as saying at the press conference.<br /><br />"It's not the Harlem I know, and it's certainly not going to change how I move around that neighborhood."<br /></p>
<p> New York police have arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with an attack on a Sikh professor last September and charged him with a hate crime.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Christian Morales was charged with aggravated harassment and committing a hate crime in the attack on Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs professor Prabhjot Singh, at a court appearance Saturday, Daily Columbia Spectator reported.<br /><br />While the investigation is still ongoing, Morales who was arrested late Friday night is the only person in custody, a New York Police Department spokesperson said.<br /><br />Singh, an observant Sikh who wears a turban and has a beard, was walking with a friend along 110th Street near Lenox Avenue in Harlem on the evening of Saturday, Sep 21, when he was approached by a group of around 20 young men, Spectator said.<br /><br />At the time, the men "made anti-Muslim statements and then they began punching the victim in the face." The attackers dispersed after three passersby called for help, the daily said citing the police.<br /><br />Despite suffering a broken jaw and bruising, Singh returned to work the following Tuesday.<br /><br />He was optimistic at a press conference held that Monday, where he said that he would invite his attackers to his place of worship and teach them about Sikhism, the newspaper recalled.<br /><br />"I think it's critical to see that this is not the community we expect, and certainly not the country we expect," Singh was quoted as saying at the press conference.<br /><br />"It's not the Harlem I know, and it's certainly not going to change how I move around that neighborhood."<br /></p>