Remembering the victims:
Satwant Singh Kaleka, 65, the temple president, killed after physically confronting the gunman. Paramjit Kaur, 41. Prakash Singh, 39. Ranjit Singh, 49. Sita Singh, 41. Suveg Singh, 84.
If you would like to make a donation in honor of the victims:
Online: http://wearesikhs.com/
Postal address:
Victims Memorial Fund
Sikh Temple of Wisconsin
7512 South Howell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53154
Some good news came Wednesday, Michelle Obama came Thursday. More talk about what to do (or what won't get done?) about racism and race/religion-based hate that leads to events like this.
Police lieutenant wounded in Sikh temple shooting released from hospital
Lt. Murphy Released From Hospital
Surrounded by family and Oak Creek police officers, Lt. Brian Murphy walked out of Frodetert Hospital under his own power Wednesday.
Murphy was at Froedtert Hospital for more than two weeks after he was shot at least eight times during the attack at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin.
One victim in the shootings, Punjab Singh, remains in critical condition. Three others, including Murphy, have now been released.
Murphy looked great, was in good spirits and overwhelmed by the support, Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi said.
Thanks to poco for the next link. Another example of the generosity and kindness of the Sikhs and a nice example of cross-cultural kindness that we could use more of.
Gurudwara Opens Doors for Muslims for Eid Prayers
In a country often threatened by strife and conflict, the Times of India on Wednesday reported a heart-warming story about how in a place called Joshimath in Uttarakhand, Sikhs invited the Muslims to pray in the hall of their Gurudwara on Eid-ul-Fitr.The story was based on reports by local vernacular media as pictured above.
Michelle Obama rallies supporters, meets with temple victims
The first lady spoke briefly with temple secretary Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal and Oak Creek Mayor Stephen Scaffidi, telling them, almost in a whisper, "It's my honor to be here with you. I'm sorry it's under these circumstances, but I am anxious to meet with the families and lend whatever support I can."
Sikh families said Obama spent about 30 minutes with them, moving from family to family to offer her condolences and concerns. The family of Oak Creek Lt. Brian Murphy, who was shot more than eight times by Wade, met privately with her in a separate room. It was not clear whether he was there.
Afterward, Amardeep Kaleka, whose father, temple president Satwant Kaleka, was killed trying to fend off Wade, said: "It felt sincere. She knew about my father and what he'd done. She called him a hero . . . and said he should be remembered for the good that he had done."
Michelle Obama offers condolences to Sikh temple community
"The focus of First Lady Michelle Obama's visit centered around the importance of continuing to honor and grieve the lives of Americans that were lost on Sunday, August 5th. She also offered strength to our family as we continue to care for our father Punjab Singh who is still fighting for his life," said Singh's two sons, Raghuvinder Singh and Jaspreet Singh.
Sikh temple shooting cited in call for congressional hate crimes review
Citing the deadly rampage at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek and attacks on Muslim communities around the country, a coalition of religious, human rights and other organizations issued a letter today calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to conduct hearings on hate crimes and the proliferation of hate groups in the United States.
My opinion: have all the hearings you want. They aren't going to do any good without action and this Congress is not going to act.
Erasing the hate through education
As with most instances of discrimination and prejudice, many people are in fear of what they do not understand.
I've said it before, I'll say it again. Education is the key to ending or at least reducing hate crimes. People fear what they do not know and white supremacist and other hate groups, as well as individual hate crime perpetrators, are largely driven by the fear of unknown cultures. Add well taught cultural studies courses to basic high school education requirements and that alone will go a long way toward reducing this problem.