A Sikh truck driver from Sacramento, California, survived being stabbed 17 times in an unprovoked attack at a rest area in Wyoming on Sunday, according to his attorney. The incident occurred just before 3:30 a.m. at the Bitter Creek rest area on Interstate 80, where the driver, who only shared his last name, Singh, had stopped for a bathroom break. According to his attorney, Jasjit Singh, the victim was first punched in the back of the head in the rest area bathroom by another truck driver, who did not speak when asked why he was being attacked. The attacker then began stabbing Singh until the victim was able to push him off and flee outside. A nearby family witnessed the attack and later helped Singh after he called 911. The suspect was located later in Rawlins, a town further east along I-80, by Wyoming Highway Patrol officers and taken into custody without incident. Officials have not determined a motive for the attack and have stated there is no public threat. The victim, who was not wearing a turban at the time, was wearing a kara, a metal bracelet traditionally worn by Sikhs. His attorney suggested that the victim believes his appearance might have played a role in the attack, though no official determination has been made linking the incident to bias based on religion, ethnicity, or appearance. The attack has raised concerns among community leaders and lawmakers about the impact of political rhetoric on South Asian and Sikh communities. Jasjit Singh noted that the victim is part of a community that has long worked to build relationships with others, and he urged people to come together rather than allow divisive language to lead to violence. The timing of the attack also coincided with controversy over a now-removed social media post from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that targeted commercial truck drivers. The post, which included a caricature of a Sikh driver and inflammatory language, drew criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom and other lawmakers. In response to the attack, Newsom’s communications team condemned the rhetoric from the Trump administration, which had promoted misinformation that targeted diverse communities. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois, expressed horror at the attack and called for accountability for those who spread hate, including federal officials. He also reiterated his earlier criticism of the DHS post, which he said fueled xenophobia against Sikh and South Asian Americans. The attack has reignited calls for unity and an end to divisive rhetoric that could lead to violence.