American Sikh Council Condemns Homegrown Terrorism; Asks Sikh Institutions to Hold Vigils and Rally Against Hate

File Photo: Sikhs in America

WASHINGTON DC, USA—The American Sikh Council (ASC) is shocked at the multiple back to back mass murders committed by ‘terrorists’ and all Caucasians in three separate mass shootings across our nation in less than a week.

1.       A terrorist opened fire using a gun stormed an entertainment district and killed at least nine people and wounded another 16 in Dayton, OH.

2.       A gunman in his 20s from Allen, TX opened fire in a crowded Walmart store, killing at least 20 people and injuring 26 others in El Paso, TX.

3.       Another gunman killed three people and wounded 13 others in a shooting at a garlic festival in Gilroy, Calif.

Every person of faith with a conscience and all right-minded faith leaders need to stand up and become vocal proponents against the hate rhetoric and vitriol being spewed on a regular basis by the leader of our nation. This kind of hate-mongering which goes beyond the usual dog-whistles is also a reason why some citizens predisposed to violence are being emboldened to carry out these terrible, senseless acts of murder against innocent Americans.

President Trump must stop playing footsy with his ‘base’ and act like a true upstanding leader that behooves the highest office of our land. This aspect is a critical part of slowing and stopping these regular mass murders that are occurring across America. We Americans cannot become immune and/or numb to this kind of preposterous violence which is also creating paranoia of the other, especially when the ‘other’ is within!

All congressmen and senators on both sides of the aisle need to remember that they are all public servants who need to take full responsibility of vocally calling out all violence, especially against minorities and making sure the president completely reins his immature scorn against all minorities.

Religious leaders across our nation must unite and call out these horrific terrorist acts perpetrated by terrorists who in many ways are being motivated by political rhetoric from the very top.

President Trump needs to put aside his own personal ambition to retake the office in 2020 and focus on his own conscience and ponder on his poor choice of words on a regular basis which is taking real lives.

Terrorism must be nipped in the bud regardless of color, creed or religion. No leader anywhere, can or should be condoning this type of hate and violence.

The American Sikh Council (ASC) stands in solidarity with all the Americans and vociferously condemns these heinous crimes in every possible way.

American Sikh Council (ASC) Vice-President S.Jasbir Kaur stated, “Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to the families of the victims of this unprecedented and unspeakable violence by these terrorists.”

Today is also the seventh anniversary of the ‘Oak Creek Massacre’ when six members of the Sikh American community were gunned down inside the gurdwara (house of prayer) in Oak Creek, WI.

ASC reiterates and strongly recommends that Sikh Americans across our nation need to take the security of their gurdwaras very seriously and use the following suggested protocol.

https://americansikhcouncil.org/2018/07/31/proactively-protecting-gurdwaras-2/

The American Sikh Council (ASC) urges all the Gurdwaras and other Sikh institutions to hold candle light vigils, organize and/or join hands in any local rally being held against hate and bigotry, and continue to educate non-Sikh neighbors about the Sikh message of universal brotherhood/sisterhood to spread peace and inclusiveness as directed by our faith founders.

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