Photo series

B.C.'s Sikh community held a protest outside of the Indian Consulate in Vancouver on March 25, 2023. The protest was sparked after media blackouts in Punjab, India, and the arrest of Sikh activist Bhai Amritpal Singh, earlier that month.

Many people wearing turbans stand with their arms raised, holding yellow Khalistan flags, and signs and posters. At the centre, stands Hardeep Singh Nijjar holding a microphone and giving a speach.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar is pictured centre at a Sikh protest outside of the Indian Consulate, speaking to a crowd of hundreds (Sukhmani Sandhu).

Protesters hold yellow Khalistan flags written in English and Punjabi. At the centre, stand a protester holding a sign to a tweet about a draconian law the Indian government is using to arrest Sikh activists.

A crowd of about 100 stands holding signs and Khalistan flags outside of the consulate (Sukhmani Sandhu).

An outside shot of protesters holding yellow Khalistan flags. They stand on sidewalks and part of the street outside of the Indian Consulate. Some police officers are present to hold the crowd the back.

Sikh protesters overtake both sides of Howe Street at West Cordova Street in Vancouver, holding Khalistan signs (Sukhmani Sandhu).

Centred is a protester holding a sign with red lettering. To the left is a yellow Khalistan flag, and to the right are two more protesters holding signs depicting Sikh prisoners in India.

A protester holds a sign that reads "India Kills Minorities," in front of Waterfront Centre, across from the Indian Consulate (Sukhmani Sandhu).

The orange, white, and green Indian flag waves next to the yellow Khalistan flag on a pole above the out-of-screen crowd below. The flags fly in front of a building corner, covered in windows.

The orange, white, and green Indian flag waves next to the yellow Khalistan flag.

A Khalistan flag waves next to the Indian flag hanging outside of the consulate (Sukhmani Sandhu).

Two Sikh youth stand, backs to the viewers, in front a few yellow Khalistan flags. The person on the left is wearing a round, blue turban with a red jacket, and the person the right wears a deep magenta jacket, with its hood covering their tuban.

Two Sikh youth wearing turbans stand outside of the Indian Consulate (Sukhmani Sandhu).

A man wearing a yellow turban stands behind his daughter wearing a black bandana, framing a protester olding two signs against India. More protesters stand with signs behind the two signs pictured.

Sikh protesters hold signs condemning India outside of the consulate. One of the signs calls India a "fascist Nazi butcher state," and has a swastika instead of the Ashok Chakra, or emblem, at the centre of the Indian flag (Sukhmani Sandhu).

A woman holds a white sign that reads, "All Sikh political prisoners must either be released or immediately presented before the court and be afforded fundamental human rights and due process of the law." The sign states its support with Bhai Amritpal Singh.

A protester holds a sign of an X post, then Twitter, outside of the Indian consulate (Sukhmani Sandhu).

A Sikh youth wearing a blue turban stands behind a crowd of about 50, holding yellow Khalistan flags.

A Sikh youth wearing a turban holds a teer, a long metal arrow in Sikhi, in front of the steps of the Indian Consulate (Sukhmani Sandhu).

A protester holds a sign that reads, "India is a tyranny not democracy." In front, stands a Vancouver Police officer in a yellow high-visibility vest and a helmet, standing next to the bicycle. More protesters line the wall of the building behing.

A protester holds a sign behind a Vancouver Police officer (Sukhmani Sandhu).

A protester carries an orange flag above the heads of protesters. Behind, are more yellow and orange Khalistan flags, protesters, and two parked cars.

A "Republic of Khalistan" flag with a khanda, a symbol of Sikhi, flies at the Sikh protest at the consulate (Sukhmani Sandhu).