SABA-DC REFLECTS ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF OAK CREEK SHOOTING

 

On the one year anniversary of the shooting at the Oak Creek, Wisconsin Gurdwara, the South Asian Bar Association, Washington D.C. (SABA-DC) reflects on the events of that tragic day and honors the memory of the victims. On August 5, 2013, six people, Paramjit Kaur, Satwant Singh Kaleka, Prakash Singh, Sita Singh, Ranjit Singh, and Suveg Singh, were shot and killed in their place of worship in an act of hatred and terror.

 

Following the Oak Creek tragedy, the SABA-DC community came together to support the Oak Creek community and held a fundraiser raising money for the families of the victims. We appreciated the support of the entire SABA-DC community.

 

Since the attacks of September 11th, 2001, Sikhs, Muslims, Arabs and South Asians have increasingly been the victims of hate crimes and the crime perpetrated at the Oak Creek Gurdwara brought that violence to the forefront of the country's consciousness.  Reacting to the community's call for change, the Federal Bureau of Investigation began tracking hate crimes committed against Sikhs, Hindus and Arabs and SABA-DC is encouraged by this recent decision. 

 

As we focus our thoughts on the memory of the victims, we hope that today is a day of peace and reflection for the families of the victims, the Oak Creek community and the South Asian community as a whole. 

 

For a PDF version of this statement, click here: Oak Creek Anniversary_Press Release.pdf