Community Corner
Vigil Remembers Victims Of Violence At Sikh Temple, Elsewhere
One year to the day of the mass shooting, more than 1,000 people gathered for a vigil at the Sikh temple.
On the very grounds where six people were killed exactly a year ago, more than 1,000 people gathered to remember them and others killed in gun violence at a vigil Monday night.
The event concluded a series of events over four days marking the shooting and brought together people from across the country.
Organizers and several speakers sought to look beyond what happened on the morning of Aug. 5, 2012, when an armed white supremacist entered the temple and began firing, and called on the audience to do their part to curb gun violence.
Those speakers included Carlee Soto, whose sister, Vicki, was a teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed in the Dec. 14, 2012 shooting. She said leaders in Washington needed to help "stop the bloodshed and save lives."
Mayor Steve Scaffidi said he was proud of the way Oak Creek responded after the attack, saying "we refused to let that act define what we became."
He encouraged people to use the incident to help others in whatever way they can.
"We can accomplish something. We can make a change that's real. We don't have to wait for Washington or someone else to do it," he said.
The vigil also included representatives from some 45 groups which have worked with the temple following the shootings attended the vigil. They ranged from a group formed on the day of the attack—the Sikh Healing Collective—and another, Milwaukee Matters, that was across the street at Classic Lanes helping temple members the day of the shooting.
One of the rare mentions of the shooter, Wade Michael Page, was made by Raghuvinder Singh, whose father remains in a rehab facility unable to move or speak.
He said families of the victims forgive Page and "pray for his soul."
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Mayor Steve Scaffidi said he was proud of the way Oak Creek responded after the attack, saying "we refused to let that act define what we became."
He encouraged people to use the incident to help others in whatever way they can.
"We can accomplish something. We can make a change that's real. We don't have to wait for Washington or someone else to do it," he said.
The vigil also included representatives from some 45 groups which have worked with the temple following the shootings attended the vigil. They ranged from a group formed on the day of the attack—the Sikh Healing Collective—and another, Milwaukee Matters, that was across the street at Classic Lanes helping temple members the day of the shooting.
One of the rare mentions of the shooter, Wade Michael Page, was made by Raghuvinder Singh, whose father remains in a rehab facility unable to move or speak.
He said families of the victims forgive Page and "pray for his soul."
Connect with your community on Patch!
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