“The best way we can honor the lives lost in the Oak Creek tragedy is through meaningful change.”
Earlier this month, Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, released the statement below on the third anniversary of the tragic shooting at the Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, which claimed the lives of six worshippers and seriously injured several others. A recognized leader in Congress on issues related to the Sikh American community, Crowley spearheaded a multi-year, successful effort to convince the federal government to begin collecting data on hate crimes committed against Sikh Americans. In addition to his work on hate crimes against the Sikh American community, Crowley has been a leader in urging the U.S. military to end its presumptive ban on Sikhs who serve, and in calling on the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to end its discriminatory policy against Sikh players.
“Three years ago, our nation was struck by the horror of a cowardly act of violence in a house of worship – our hearts breaking as we saw a community terrorized in what should be a place of safety and hope. Today, I join the people of Oak Creek, the Sikh American community, and people all over the country in mourning the six lives lost in this awful tragedy.
“This day is also a time for us to renew our promise to fighting intolerance and hate everywhere. In the wake of the Oak Creek tragedy, we see people joining hands and standing up for what is right. We see other victims of hate reaching out to those devastated by the tragic Charleston church shooting. We see people coming together to say, ‘enough is enough.’
“Now that the FBI is tracking hate crimes against Sikh Americans, we will have a better picture of the challenges before us. But the fact remains that Sikhs are all too often victims of intolerance and hate, and that must change. I will continue to be relentless in my work to secure civil rights for Sikh Americans and educate others about this beautiful community. The best way we can honor the lives lost in the Oak Creek tragedy is through meaningful change.”
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