In the wake of recent attacks against Sikhs due to heightened anti-Muslim sentiment, a turbaned Sikh man who protested against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s speech was forcibly removed from his rally.
The Sikh man was forced out of Trump's rally in the US state of Iowa on Sunday after he interrupted his speech by displaying a banner that read 'Stop Hate'.
The man, wearing a bright red turban, started his peaceful protest impromptu, when Trump was addressing an impressive campaign rally with his signature anti-Muslim speech.
Displaying a banner "Stop Hate", the Sikh protester tried to interrupt the speech of the Republican presidential frontrunner. Soon he was escorted out of the rally.
Due to perceived similarity with Muslims in appearance, Sikhs have been at the receiving end of many attacks in the US in the recent past.
The protest started when Trump was speaking about the twin-tower terrorist attack in New York.
"We have radical Islamic terror going on all over the place, all over the world, and we have a president that won't say it," he said.
"When planes fly into the World Trade Centre, and into the Pentagon, and wherever the third plane was going. When people are shooting their friends in California, when they're shooting their friends," Trump said.
As the Sikh raised his banner, he waved his hand and said 'Bye. Bye. Goodbye'.
"He wasn't wearing one of those hats was he? And he never will, and that's OK because we got to do something folks because it's not working," Trump said as the sole Sikh protester was taken out of the rally amidst chanting of 'USA, USA, USA' by his supporters.
Trump is campaigning in Iowa ahead of next week's crucial caucus.
Latest polls showed that he has taken a lead over his nearest Republican rival Ted Cruz. Iowa Caucus on February 1 is considered crucial as it would set the trend for the rest of the presidential primaries over the next few months.