UNITED SIKHS Statement on the 10th Memorial Anniversary of Oak Creek Gurdwara Shooting

New York

10 years ago on August 5, 2012, a gunman opened fire in the Sikh Gurdwara of Wisconsin killing seven people – Satwant Singh Kaleka, Paramjit Kaur, Prakash Singh, Ranjit Singh, Sita Singh and Suveg Singh. This heinous act of hatred and terror also seriously injured several other worshippers, as well as Oak Creek Police Lieutenant Brian Murphy, who was shot 12 times at close range. The shooter, Wade Michael Page, who had ties to white supremacist organizations, later killed himself after killing 7 Sikh congregants. The act was declared as hate crime and terrorist act by the US Department of Justice.  

The Oak Creek shooting remains a reminder of the work that still must be done to protect all communities against the rising threat of targeted, hate-fueled violence. This anniversary represents a painful day for the Sikh in general and Wisconsinites in particular, especially for friends and families and loved ones of the victims, and many others still grappling with their injuries and trauma every day, and many worshippers and neighbors who either witnessed the violence themselves and who still live in trauma of the shooting. 

“It is more than ever important to work with all relevant government authorities in order to protect our community and proactively guard our Places of worship. We need to close the gap of cultural competence that exists in Governmental public institutions. An attack on one community is an attack on all communities. We all need to Unite and say NO TO HATE,” said Gurpreet Singh, CEO of the UNITED SIKHS. 

Ten years after the shooting, hate crime and violence against the Sikhs continue to be on the rise.  Recent data from SALDEF unearthed that Sikh Americans are the most targeted minority in bias incidents per capita with 85% of respondents not feeling safe practicing Sikhism all of the time; 58% of respondents report being bullied or harassed because of their Sikh identity; 63% of turbaned respondents report being discriminated against for wearing a turban. 

“Despite being shattered as we witnessed the worst of humanity, Sikhs all around the nation had to turn to our faith in order to start the road towards healing. More work is ahead of us to tirelessly advocate for policy and legislative reform at the Capitol,” said Hardayal Singh, Programs Director and cofounder of UNITED SIKHS. 

UNITED SIKHS calls upon members of all communities to take a moment of silence in remembering the lives lost. We also recommit ourselves to work with all members of our community nationwide and abroad with a targeted goal of equipping personnel and employees from law enforcement, government agencies, school districts, and other faith communities to provide them with sufficient cultural resources, training and understanding about fundamentals of Sikh faith and identity. The Sikh Gurdwaras are supposed to be open to everyone,  that is why it is so important for the Sikh community to be extra vigilant and have security protocols in place.