Stand United With PICS: Stop Violence and Intimidation Against Community Leaders
Stand United With PICS: Stop Violence and Intimidation Against Community Leaders
The Issue
Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society strongly condemns the targeted assault on PICS President & CEO, Satbir S. Cheema on Monday, August 11, when he was attacked with pepper/bear spray while leaving the PICS head office in Surrey around 5:30 p.m.
According to surveillance footage, two masked men in a white RAM pickup truck were waiting in the PICS parking lot. When the CEO exited the building and approached his car, the truck advanced blocking the CEO’s vehicle and one man jumped out and moved towards him while the other filmed the encounter on his phone. The attacker lunged forward and sprayed a strong-smelling orange substance believed to be pepper/bear spray on Mr. Cheema. Fortunately, he was able to avoid direct impact by quickly moving aside, sustaining only minor exposure to clothing, turban and left arm.
The attackers immediately fled the scene in their vehicle. Police were called and given the surveillance footage, which captured the incident from two different angles (attached with the email). The matter is under active investigation.
“This cowardly and targeted attack is not just on me personally, but on the values the PICS Society stands for. I am deeply grateful for the support being provided by the local police and the community at large. Let me be clear: violence and intimidation will not deter us from serving those who depend on our services,” said Satbir S. Cheema, CEO & President of PICS Society.
Board Chair Maninder Grewal added: “The Board of Directors and all the members stand firmly behind our CEO and condemn this shameful act in the strongest possible terms. PICS has served this community with dignity and dedication for decades, and we will not allow fear or aggression to derail our mission.”
During the recent Annual General Meeting on Sunday, August 17, 2025, held at PICS Senior Housing Facility, the Board of Directors passed a resolution strongly denouncing the attack. The resolution reaffirms PICS Society’s commitment to continuing its work fearlessly, despite attempts at intimidation.
PICS Society calls upon community leaders, elected officials, and the public to unite in rejecting this kind of violence.
www.pics.bc.ca
1
The Issue
Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society strongly condemns the targeted assault on PICS President & CEO, Satbir S. Cheema on Monday, August 11, when he was attacked with pepper/bear spray while leaving the PICS head office in Surrey around 5:30 p.m.
According to surveillance footage, two masked men in a white RAM pickup truck were waiting in the PICS parking lot. When the CEO exited the building and approached his car, the truck advanced blocking the CEO’s vehicle and one man jumped out and moved towards him while the other filmed the encounter on his phone. The attacker lunged forward and sprayed a strong-smelling orange substance believed to be pepper/bear spray on Mr. Cheema. Fortunately, he was able to avoid direct impact by quickly moving aside, sustaining only minor exposure to clothing, turban and left arm.
The attackers immediately fled the scene in their vehicle. Police were called and given the surveillance footage, which captured the incident from two different angles (attached with the email). The matter is under active investigation.
“This cowardly and targeted attack is not just on me personally, but on the values the PICS Society stands for. I am deeply grateful for the support being provided by the local police and the community at large. Let me be clear: violence and intimidation will not deter us from serving those who depend on our services,” said Satbir S. Cheema, CEO & President of PICS Society.
Board Chair Maninder Grewal added: “The Board of Directors and all the members stand firmly behind our CEO and condemn this shameful act in the strongest possible terms. PICS has served this community with dignity and dedication for decades, and we will not allow fear or aggression to derail our mission.”
During the recent Annual General Meeting on Sunday, August 17, 2025, held at PICS Senior Housing Facility, the Board of Directors passed a resolution strongly denouncing the attack. The resolution reaffirms PICS Society’s commitment to continuing its work fearlessly, despite attempts at intimidation.
PICS Society calls upon community leaders, elected officials, and the public to unite in rejecting this kind of violence.
www.pics.bc.ca
1
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Petition created on August 18, 2025