A Show of Solidarity and Sanity
By Tahir Ali
Boston, MA
A rea Muslims participated in a vigil held at the Gurdwara in Milford - and later in the week on August 12th participated at a interfaith gathering in Worcester.
The shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin on August 5th which left 6 dead and 4 injured has been largely characterized as a hate crime, carried out by an US Army veteran, Wade Michael Page who reportedly had links to racist groups.
While the cowardice act of the hate monger was despicable there were many acts of valor that took place - that day and the day after. Abhay Singh (11) and his sister ran inside the Gurdwara to warn everyone when Page started to open fire outside. The president of the Gurdwara Satwant Singh Kaleka sacrificed his life as he hurled a small knife at Page, jumping in the line of fire taking two bullet shots - buying enough time for others to run for cover and call 911.
Similarly, the President of the Milford Gurdwara Sarbpreet Singh boldly told news reporters. “We’re not nervous at all, there’s no reason to be. This was a one off incident. And our tendency as a community when something like this happens, is not to run from our Gurdwaras, but to flock to our Gurdwaras -- to get together and pray.”
He told NECN: “For me to say, oh, we’re not Muslims, almost implies that it’s ok to target Muslims. It’s not. It’s not OK to target any innocent people…”
All this happened in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan, yet many Muslims found the courage to attend and stand in solidarity with the Sikh community.
About 200 Sikhs and 30 Muslims attended the vigil in the Milford Sikh Temple. The Sikh community felt honored when we prayed in their lawn and read a statement on behalf of our Islamic centers condemning the attack. Neither this support and standing in solidarity with the Sikh community go unnoticed either - media captured and reported it extensively. Most major TV channels in their news coverage of the vigil showed also the Muslims praying at the Gurdwara.[some links are provided].
“I’m a Muslim, and this could have happened to me and my community, so I’m here because we are peace loving and so are they,” said Daisy Siddiqui. In fact, some of the Muslims who attended interrupted their Ramadan holiday and prayed on the front lawn of the Sikh temple - Channel 7 NBC Television News.
http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/12008200341675/vigil-held-in-milford-for-shooting-at-wis-sikh-temple/
http://milford-ma.patch.com/articles/image-gallery-candlelight-vigil-prayer-service-draws-faiths-together#photo-10927044
Religious minorities are under attack, said Tahir Ali, a spokesman for the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester. He led Muslim men [and women] in prayer outside the temple. “We wanted to show we stand in solidarity with them,” Ali said.
On August 12th both ISGW and WIC were very well represented when the Muslim delegation joined in an interfaith gathering around Worcester City Hall. People who spoke included:
Hari Kirin Kaur Khalsa, aka, Dr. Diane Pingeton, of SIKH Dharma – ORGANIZER.
Reverand Tom Schade, First Unitarian Church in Worcester.
Dr. Abraham Fischer, representing the Worcester Jewish community.
Mr Clarence Burley,Clerk, Worcester Friends Meeting, the Quakers.
Dr. Paul Ropp, Center for Nonviolent Solutions, Worcester.
Muslim Delegation: Tahir Ali leading the Muslim Delegation, Mazen Ramadan reciting passages from the Holy Qur’an (Chapter 49:13), Maleeha Sadozai offering the English transalation. Addresses from: Shamil Mohammad WIC President and Dr. Khalid Sadozai ISGW President . Joint statement read by Daoud Ali Chavez.
Melissa Blacker and David Rynick, Boundless Way Temple, Worcester Zen Community
a spontaneous participant, representing Catholics of Worcester.
Jessica Gray representing Earth-Based Religions
These are the words that were contributed:
“In our darkest times we are called to draw deeply from the well of compassion in our hearts and souls. It is my greatest hope that we here in Worcester can continue meaningful interfaith dialogue and service. “ - Hari Kirin Kaur Khalsa of Sikh Dharma.
“On behalf of the Worcester Islamic Center I would like to thank you for inviting us. We would like to express our condolences to the families and communities and we stand in solidarity with you. Hate knows no bound, it doesn’t care about race or religion. The same week of the shooting at the Temple a Mosque in Joplin MO was burned down. We ask God to give us the strength and patience to get through this tough time and make us stronger.” - Sharmil (WIC).
“On behalf of the Islamic Society I thank Dr. Pingeton for inviting us and allowing us to share in their grief resulting from the tragic shooting in Wisconsin Sikh Gurdwara. Such hate crimes are cancerous to the American society and a threat to its values. We pray to the Almighty that such destructive elements cease to exist. ” - Dr. Sadozai (ISGW).
“All of these senseless and immoral acts of violence were carried out by mentally disturbed perpetrators. But in the face of these evil acts, we cannot, we dare not, throw up our hands and say they are just part of the price of freedom.”- Dr.Paul Ropp, CNS.
“The American Friends Service Committee offers its deepest condolences to the Sikh and Muslim communities suffering from this week of violence and hatred in Oak Creek, WI, and Joplin, MO, and urges others to join us as we rally behind these communities nationwide.” AFSC statement.
“On behalf of the Muslim community of Worcester, I want to express our deepest condolences to the Sikh community and in particular to the families of the victims in Wisconsin. As Muslims, we stand united with all people of faith and conscience in condemning racial and religious bigotry.” - Excerpts from the joint statement read by Daoud Ali Chavez.
Resolve: Let us turn our grief into strength, renew our commitment to the ideals of unity in diversity, and reaffirm our faith in the power of love and compassion to overcome the forces of hatred, fear and ignorance.
