Civil and Human Rights Coalition Laments Fatal Shooting at Sikh Gurdwara in Wisconsin

Washington, D.C. – Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on yesterday’s tragic shooting at a Sikh temple outside of Milwaukee:

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, communities, and people impacted by yesterday’s tragedy in Wisconsin. We also commend the brave law enforcement officers that risked their lives to protect the people of Oak Creek.   

While the motive of the shooter is unknown at this point, we know that six people are dead; that a sacred place of worship was attacked; and that when crimes single out a particular community, the suffering reverberates far beyond that of the victims and their families.

Sikhs in the United States face levels of violence and bias based on religion and ethnicity that is entirely unacceptable.  The peaceful and tight-knit communities of Sikhs in the U.S. are models of unity, strength, patience, and tolerance – they embody the best of what America can be.

The civil and human rights community stands in support of the people of Oak Creek as they mourn this tragedy.”

Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.