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Diaspora groups honor victims of Oak Creek gurdwara shooting
Thirteen years ago, a White supremacist gunman opened fire in the Sikh temple, instantly killing six; the seventh victim died years later of his wounds.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Tue, 05, Aug 2025
- 23:34 EDT
- 20
The victims of the tragic shooting / X/@Bryan Steil
Several diaspora groups, community leaders and lawmakers on Aug.5, 2025, remembered the shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, on the 13th anniversary of the tragedy.
A 40-year-old White supremacist named Wade Michael Page entered the temple and opened fire, killing six people and wounding four others before taking his own life.
The incident was classified as an act of domestic terrorism by U.S. authorities. The shooter had a history of racist and anti-immigrant views. He used a legally purchased 9mm handgun in the attack. The event shocked the Sikh community and the broader public, prompting widespread condemnation.
Paramjit Kaur Saini, Sita Singh, Ranjit Singh, Prakash Singh, Suveg Singh Khattra, and Satwant Singh Kaleka lost their lives in the tragic incident. The seventh victim, Baba Punjab Singh, passed away in 2020 owing to the injuries sustained during the shooting.
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The Sikh Coalition said, "Today marks the 13-year anniversary of what was, at the time, one of the deadliest attacks on a house of worship in U.S. history."
It added, "Amidst a challenging time for both hate violence and civil rights in our country, we urge sangats across the nation to stay vigilant."
13 years ago today, a white supremacist gunman attacked a gurdwara in Oak Creek, WI, in what was, at the time, one of the deadliest assaults on a house of worship in U.S. history. We join Sikhs across the nation to pause in remembrance of this attack. https://t.co/D9vzUxp4yX pic.twitter.com/0d0jBhEWlv
— Sikh Coalition (@sikh_coalition) August 5, 2025
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus also expressed solidarity and said, "CAPAC stands in solidarity with the Sikh community nationwide to #RememberOakCreek and reject hate in all its forms."
On August 5, 2012, a shooter with white supremacist and neo-Nazi ties opened fire at a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
— Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (@CAPAC) August 5, 2025
CAPAC stands in solidarity with the Sikh community nationwide to #RememberOakCreek and reject hate in all its forms. pic.twitter.com/N8l6CxJqBC
The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAIC) said on X, "We honor the victims, their families, and the resilience of the Sikh American community, & remain committed to standing against hate in all its forms."
Thirteen years ago todays, six lives were taken and four others injured in a shooting at a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, WI. We honor the victims, their families, and the resilience of the Sikh American community, & remain committed to standing against hate in all its forms. pic.twitter.com/ky9zg2JoHx
— APAICS (@APAICS) August 5, 2025
Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIA Vote) also remembered the victims of the fatal attack and said, "We honor their memory by standing strong against hate and fighting for safer, united communities."
The South Asian Network echoed similar sentiments and said, "We honor their memory by standing strong against hate and fighting for safer, united communities."
The Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) of San Francisco Bay Area also offered condolences and said, "Today, we honor the 7 lives lost in this tragedy. We must stand united against hate in all forms—anti-Sikh bigotry, Islamophobia, antisemitism, anti-Black racism, & more."
Numerous American lawmakers also expressed condolences to the victims and put forward a message of hope. Rep. Judy Chu, co-founder of the American Sikh Congressional Caucus, described the incident as a "hate-fuelled attack" and expressed her commitment to "ensuring more communities do not have to suffer from hateful acts based on the intolerance of others”.
Rep. Bryan Steil, Rep. Tammy Baldwin and Rep. Mike Thompson also expressed sorrow over the lives lost in the attack. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez also shared in the Sikh community's grief.
In the aftermath of the attacks, the then Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh had a telephonic conversation with US President Barack Obama. Obama expressed his condolences over the incident.
Additionally, the then First Lady Michelle Obama visited the families of the victims of the shooting.
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