Flashback: CNN talks to Sikh leader after white supremacist attacks Oak Creek, Wisconsin gurdwara

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| Flashback | Washington, US | 20 July 2017 | Asia Samachar |

By Dr Rajwant Singh | Facebook Entry

CNN’s Don Lemon talks to me about the Sikh religion immediately after the shooting at the Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin [in 2012]. A white supremacist gunman, Wade Michael Page, attacked worshippers on August 5, 2012 and killed 6 Sikhs. This year is the 5th anniversary of this tragedy.

ਵਿਸਕਾਨਸਿਨ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੇ ਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਗੋਰੇ ਨੇ 2012 ਚ ਅਟੈਕ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ੬ ਸਿੱਖ ਮਾਰੇ ਗਏ। ਆਮ ਅਮਰੀਕਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਅਤੇ ਪੈ੍ਜੀਡੈਂਟ ਓਬਾਮਾ ਨੇ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸਟੈਂਡ ਲਿਆ। ਵਾਈਟ ਹਾਊਸ ਤੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦਾ ਝੰਡਾ ਥੱਲੇ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ।

The six victims killed included one woman: Paramjit Kaur, 41; and five men: Satwant Singh Kaleka, 65, the founder of the gurdwara; Prakash Singh, 39, a Granthi; Sita Singh, 41; Ranjit Singh, 49; and Suveg Singh Khattra, 84. All of the male victims wore turbans as part of their Sikh faith.

SEE ALSO: Sikhs hire PR firm to reach out to Americans nationwide 

America lowered its flags in honor of these victims. Millions of Americans poured love and support to the Sikhs for which the community will always remain grateful.

Sikhism, the 5th largest religion in the world, has originated from India. Since 9/11, Sikhs have often been made the target of hate and violence in America due to ignorance about our outer identity of turban and beard. People think that Sikhs belong to the Middle East, Isis or that they are part of anti-American groups.

Sikhism preaches racial & gender equality, respect for all religions and that one should share one’s blessings with the less fortunate and underprivileged in society. Sikhs have been part of America for the last 100 years and yet most Americans have no clue about the religion and its practices in which the males and some females wear turban as a symbol of equality and royalty. It stands for justice and love for all!

We also believe that America’s strength is due to its diversity and no one person or community should be made the target of hate or violence.

A United States Sikh group has hired FP1 Strategies in their latest efforts to bolster the community’s image in what has been described as possibly the first time that Sikhs have ‘undertaken a major, proactive effort to reach out to Americans nationwide’.

Extracted from Dr Rajwant Singh’s Facebook entry. Dr Rajwant is also leading the National Sikh Campaign (NSC) which has engaged a professional PR agency to proactively bolster the Sikh image in the eyes of the citizens of the United States

 

[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]

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Sikhs hire PR firm to reach out to Americans nationwide (Asia Samachar, 1 Feb 2017)

 

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