For context, a Sikh grows their hair as it was ordained by our tenth leader, Guru Gobind Singh ji. He wanted to establish an identity for Sikhs that we could proudly be known as Sikhs.

It isn't about "choice" to have unshorn hair, it's a decree by our Guru.

We keep our hair traditionally under a pagh (turban) / under a patka (head covering) as a sign of how important it is.

Our kesh (unshorn hair) is one of the Five K's for being identified as a Sikh.

The Five K's are:
Kesh- unshorn hair
Kanga - comb
Kara - steel bangle
Kacchera - undergarments
Kirpan - small dagger

To be ripped of these is to attack our very person.

So when these White boys attacked this Sikh boy and made his hair fall free, this is a deeply personal attack.

Many of us Sikhs grew up in the UK being mocked for long unshorn hair. As a boy, being ridiculed for it was embarrassing. Many of us ended up cutting our hair short to fit in and be like the other lads. We literally had to cut out our identity because we weren't accepted.