10 years after Wisconsin Sikh Gurdwara shooting, UNITED SIKHS moves firmly to end hatred against Sikhs and other minorities

Oak Creek

The fateful day of August 5, 2012 shocked the entire Sikh American Community and the Sikh diaspora worldwide.

Threats to the Sikh community because of mistaken identity with Afghans had risen in the aftermath of 9/11, but that Sunday morning was like a terrifying nightmare, tragically coming true in the most gruesome manner.

To the consternation of everyone around, a 40-year-old bald neo-Nazi white Supremist started shooting indiscriminately at devotees in the Gurudwara in the Milwaukee suburb of Oak Creek in Wisconsin.

Horrendous moments of terror followed. Sounds of gun, shrieks and scenes of blood and death. Several tried to save themselves but six devotees died and several got injured. All of those who died were Sikhs. We lost Paramjit Kaur, Prakash Singh, Ranjit Singh, Satwant Singh Kaleka, Sita Singh, Suveg Singh Khattra. 

Baba Punjab Singh who had been paralysed after being shot on that day, also passed away in 2020 following complications the injuries had caused.

Despite deep shock, UNITED SIKHS acted swiftly following the tragedy, owning the responsibility to stop further damage — to recover from trauma and take measures, to heal the Sikh American psyche, to create awareness about Sikh identity. 

• UNITED SIKHS mobilized its teams to help the community immediately. After the shooting, we set up emergency response teams. 
• The UNITED SIKHS Emergency Response Team, composed of trained professionals and counselors, reached Wisconsin to provide immediate and first-hand assistance to the families dealing with the tragedy. Trauma counselors were brought in to heal traumatic stress related effects of the event on the Oak Creek Community at large. 
• Our teams launched the “I pledge against Hate Crime” campaign to raise awareness against such senseless acts.
• A Task Force to communicate with law enforcement agencies was deputed to ensure community confidence in their safety is restored. 
• We also extended the National Helpline 1-855-US-UMEED to all individuals seeking assistance as they came to grips with the tragedy.
• For constant communication with the media and community members, our teams ensured accurate information regarding the unfolding events and the Sikh panth was sent out to the public.
• We called upon Inter-faith communities to show solidarity by holding prayer vigils in places of worship.
• Our teams also created an action plan and toolkit for community safety.
• The editorial team in collaboration with top trauma specialists prepared a self training manual ‘Helping Families Cope with Violence and Disaster’ comprising all the important aspects related to helping both individuals, as well as Sangat in Gurdwaras, overcome trauma resulting from natural and man-made disasters. 
• Communication was coordinated to send out messages to stay in chardi kala (high spirits) and be there for one another, to rely on the power of ‘naam simran’ (meditation) for garnering the strength to move forward.
• In order to mobilize everyone to write to the President of the USA about the incident, our teams created template letters for everyone to submit the letter in person or by post to the White House or at an American Embassy. Following this campaign, First Lady Michelle Obama visited Wisconsin to meet with the victims and their families. 
• UNITED SIKHS teams also visited families of the victims in India and gave them immediate monetary aid to help with their daily expenses. Rs 50,000 each has been given to the families of Bhai Seeta Singh, Bhai Ranjit Singh and Sardar Punjab Singh.

The Oak Creek incident was like a wake-up call that despite having coexisted in America for more than 100 years, people were not aware of the Sikh identity, its piety, the teachings, our values, tenets of universal well-being and Seva. 

We continue to make efforts to create awareness about Sikh identity to reduce bias and stop hate crimes against Sikhs and other minorities. We are mobilizing our resources to end stereotypes, negative bias to stop hate crimes against Sikhs and other minorities. We continue to reach out and work with local, state and federal agencies to ensure that the Sikh community is included in the efforts to educate localities to decrease such incidents. 

With your support, we are making efforts through multiple platforms to turn the tide — to turn ignorance, bias, hatred and hostility into awareness and respect for minorities within the United States and beyond. Thank you!

Manvinder Singh
Advocacy Director
​International Civil & Human Rights Adcvocay- ICHRA

Recognize the Human Race as One