Statement on the Massacre at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin

We are shocked and deeply saddened by the senseless massacre which occurred yesterday morning at  the Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, when a neo-Nazi opened fire while a reading of the Sikh scripture was in progress, killing 6 people.

Vigil at Cathedral Square

Tragically, this horrific attack came a little more than two weeks after the movie-theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, that left 12 dead.

We offer our prayers and condolences to the victims, their families, the members of the Gurdwara, and the surrounding community.  This is a tragedy, not just for Sikh-Americans, but also for all Americans and all people of good will.

We urge all to pray for the victims, their families and friends, and the surrounding community.  We endorse the call of the Wisconsin Council of Church for a Day of Prayer for the Sikh Community next Sunday, August 12, and will be organizing vigils and services on this day.  We urge everyone to join the vigils, rallies, and other events in solidarity with our Sikh sisters and brothers.

Our hope is that this day will provide an opportunity to pray for the victims, their families, and the Sikh community, which has been the target of increasing violence and bigotry since the September 11 attacks.

We also believe that our prayers and acts of solidarity must address, not only the specifics of this tragedy, but the context from which it arises, the  American culture of violence and bigotry.

While the U.S. has a long history of violence and persecution against members of the Sikh community (see Shooting at the Gurdwara: The Sense of White Supremacy), much of the recent violence and harassment directed at the Sikh community in the is tied to the continued vilification and persecution of Muslims.  Ravi Chawla, a Sikh businessman, told the New York Times, “Most people are so ignorant they don’t know the difference between religions. Just because they see the turban they think you’re Taliban.”  And Manjit Singh “Everyone here is thinking this is a hate crime for sure. People think we are Muslims.” (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/us/army-veteran-identified-as-suspect-in-wisconsin-shooting.html)
 
The labeling of others as evil because of their religion, the dehumanization of communities as “The Other,” and the justification of indiscriminate killing of civilians - by individuals or governments - all contribute to an atmosphere conducive to the tragedy in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

While praying for the victims of the shooting and the Sikh community, let us also deepen our commitment to the Christian vocation of non-violence and compassion towards neighbor and stranger, and seek to be instruments of peace in a culture wracked by violence and hatred.


Prayer For Unity: Sikh Prayer of The One
By Guru Arjan

Some remember God as Ram;
some call him Khuda;
Some use the name Gosain;
some worship him as Allah.

Gracious Lord Almighty,
you are the source and cause of everything,
O Lord, Compassionate One,
Shower your grace on all.

Some bathe at Hindu holy places;
some go to perform the Hajj;
Some engage in Puja;
some bow their heads in prayer;
Some study Vedas;
some read the Bible or Qur'an.
Some dress in blue; some wear white;

Some call themselves Muslims;
some are called Hindus,
Some desire to go to heaven;
some long for paradise.
But whoever does the will of God,
To him all things are revealed.


Resources to learn more about Sikhism:


The Sikh Coalition

Sikhs.org

Gateway to Sikhism


*** PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING IF YOU CAN:
To support the victims, the injured police officer and their families of the shootings and stand in solidarity with the Sikh community, please donate now. The funds will be used to defray the costs of medical bills, funeral expenses, psychological counseling and sustain the lives of the victims’ families.

http://www.indiegogo.com/Milwaukee-Sikh