Balpreet Singh, legal counsel and spokesperson for the World Sikh Organization of Canada, speaks at a Dec. 7 public town hall on extortion. The event was held at the Canadian Convention Centre in Brampton.

A coalition of Sikh organizations is demanding action on what they’re calling an unprecedented wave of extortion crime targeting Sikh families and businesses in Brampton and beyond.

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO), the Sikh Federation, the B.C. Gurdwaras Council and the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee hosted a town hall meeting Dec. 7 with police, politicians and community members in Brampton to confront the threat and bring attention to the issue.