, , , ,

PHOTOS: At candlelight vigil, Sikh Temple of Wisconsin marks 10 years since shooting

Hundreds gather to honor seven killed by white supremacist gunman

By
Two women kneel down near a row of candles.
Attendees light candles and place them near the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin on the 10th anniversary of a mass shooting that killed seven members of the community Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, in Oak Creek, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

Hundreds paid respects at Oak Creek’s Sikh Temple of Wisconsin on the 10th anniversary of a mass shooting that killed seven members of the community.

Kamal Kaur was 11 years old when her father, Sita Singh, was killed in the shooting. “I don’t want you to think of me just today,” she told the crowd. “I want you to think of me every single day, because I’m hurting every single day.”

After hearing from the victims’ family members, political officials and religious leaders, attendees placed candles near the front door in remembrance.

Stay informed on the latest news

Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Priests at the temple, or gurdwara, are performing a 48-hour continuous prayer service to honor those who died on Aug. 5, 2012, when a white supremacist gunman entered the temple as its Sunday morning services were beginning.

The temple is holding educational events for the public around the anniversary, and Sikh temples across the country are performing community service this weekend in honor of those who died a decade ago. They say they also hope it will help call attention to the threat of white supremacist violence and the need to support faith communities that can be vulnerable to terror attacks by extremists.

A woman places a hand to her face during the vigil.
Family members of the mass shooting victims sit together during the vigil marking its 10th anniversary Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
Framed photographs sit on a table with flowers.
Photographs of the mass shooting victims are displayed during a vigil Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
Tony Evers holds a candle as he shakes hands with attendees.
Gov. Tony Evers shakes hands with members of the Sikh Motorcycle Club at the vigil Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
Men sit at the front of the vigil to play music.
Men play music at the front of the vigil as attendees light candles in remembrance Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
Two men lean down to place candles on the ground.
Pardeep Kaleka and Gurvinder Singh light candles outside of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin during a vigil marking the 10th anniversary of a mass shooting Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, in Oak Creek, Wis. Both men lost family members during the tragedy. Angela Major/WPR
A woman holds her candle to another to light it while sitting at the vigil.
Attendees light candles on the 10th anniversary of a mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, in Oak Creek, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
Flowers can be seen near attendees seated for the vigil.
Flowers are placed at the front of the vigil Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
Adults and children place candles on the ground.
Attendees light candles and place them near the front of the temple Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
Candles are placed in a circle as people gather around.
Candles are placed to mark the 10th anniversary of a mass shooting which took the lives of seven Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
A candle is seen up close.
An attendee holds a candle during the vigil Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

READ MORE: For Sikh community, 2012 Oak Creek shooting feels like a warning that wasn’t heeded

LISTEN: Reducing hate and extremism with Pardeep Kaleka

Celebrate Curiosity. Make your year end gift today. Support WPR.