Lessons on Terrorism and 'Mistaken Identity' from Oak Creek, with a Coda on the Boston Marathon Bombings

113 Columbia Law Review Sidebar 76 (2013)

12 Pages Posted: 12 May 2013 Last revised: 13 May 2013

Date Written: May 1, 2013

Abstract

The tragic events in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, thrust upon an obscure religious community, and more broadly upon our laws and society, provide us with an opportunity to assess the efficacy of the law and conceptual explanations, not only as they apply to this incident, but also to those that may occur in the future. As discussed here, Oak Creek indicates why the definition of “terrorism” should be amended to not rely on the subjective motivation underlying the random killing of innocents, and how the disability-rights context may facilitate understanding and undermine criticisms of the media that are premised on notions of offensiveness or political value judgments. Oak Creek offers at least these lessons.

Keywords: Oak Creek, Sikhs, terrorism, hate crime, mistaken identity, regarded as, disability, mass violence, shootings

Suggested Citation

Sidhu, Dawinder S., Lessons on Terrorism and 'Mistaken Identity' from Oak Creek, with a Coda on the Boston Marathon Bombings (May 1, 2013). 113 Columbia Law Review Sidebar 76 (2013), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2263565

Dawinder S. Sidhu (Contact Author)

Hopwood & Singhal PLLC ( email )

1701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006
United States

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