Honoring the victims of Oak Creek

When I heard the news of the Oak Creek shooting last year, my immediate reaction was fear for my friend and his family who regularly attended the gurdwara. Thankfully, my friend was safe. Sadly, his uncle and founder of the gurdwara, Satwant Singh Kaleka, was killed while trying to prevent the shooter from entering.

Today marks the first anniversary of one of the biggest tragedies to ever happen at a place of worship in our country. On August 5, 2012, a self-proclaimed white supremacist shot and killed six Americans attending religious services at a gurdwara (Sikh temple) in Oak Creek, a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

After a year of grief, anger, and reflection, I want to commemorate this important anniversary and honor the victims of Oak Creek by deepening the dialogue on hate crimes, gun violence, and racism in our country. Today we can honor the lives of those lost in Oak Creek by talking about how we, as individuals and as a country, can have more empathy and understanding for those that look different.

In the midst of horrific and senseless violence last year, I was amazed, not to mention deeply uplifted, by the words and perspective of my friend Kanwar and his entire family. A year after the tragedy, the responsefrom the community in Wisconsin has been no less inspiring —including their 6K fundraiser aptly named Chardhi Kala, or “perpetual optimism”. I hope we can all share in those sentiments today: To transcend the violence and hate that occurred in Oak Creek a year ago today and transform it into understanding for one another’s differences, build empathy between our communities, and to hold unwavering compassion and respect for life.

Rest in peace, Paramjit Kaur.
Rest in peace, Prakash Singh.
Rest in peace, Satwant Singh Kaleka.
Rest in peace, Sita Singh.
Rest in peace, Suveg Singh Khattra.
Rest in peace, Ranjit Singh.

Peace,

Samala

C.M. Samala is Director of 18MR.org

Active Campaigns

  • Mostly green and black duotone graphic with keffiyeh patterns and a bird’s eye view photo of a mass protest. There is a photo of the Asians for a Liberated Palestine banner. Text reads: Solidarity with Palestine. End U.S. Aid to Israel. Mon 8/19 12pm, Union Park, Chicago. Sign up to join our contingent. bit.ly/18MR_MARCHDNC. Stop police crimes! Community control of the police now! Immigrant rights and legalization for all! Defend LGBTQIA+ and reproductive rights. Money for jobs, schools, healthcare, housing, and environment, not for war. Defend the right to unionize and strike. Justice, peace, and quality. Marchondnc2024.org.

    March on the DNC 2024

    This August, thousands of activists will join the National March on the DNC in Chicago to demand the Democratic Party fight for the rights and liberation of all peoples. This is the time for our movements to gather and demand more from our electeds, including demilitarization of Israel and end to weapons aid.  We know […]
  • Mostly green and black duotone graphic. Text reads Solidarity Fund for March on DNC 2024. Union Park, Chicago. Our community keeps us safe.

    March on DNC Solidarity Fund

    This August, 18 Million Rising is leading a contingent of radical Asian American organizers in Chicago to join the National March on the DNC coalition. We’re calling on our community to keep all of us safe on this journey by contributing to 18MR’s DNC Solidarity Fund. Your donation will help cover expenses such as: We […]
  • Graphic says "Asian Americans say no to Zionism and Islamophobia! - 70+ Asian American and allied organizations tell The Asian American Foundation: Drop Jonathan Greenblatt! The ADL is not an ally to Asian American communities, organizations, and movements."

    Say NO to Zionism and Islamophobia!

    Say NO to Zionism and Islamophobia! 70+ Asian American and allied organizations tell The Asian American Foundation: Drop Jonathan Greenblatt! The ADL is NOT AN ALLY to Asian American communities, organizations, and movements.

Also On 18MR