Photos courtesy Sikh Coalition
Members of the Sikh community joined a community memorial in honor of the eight FedEx shooting victims in Indianapolis Sunday.
WISH reports that eight bouquets were laid at the steps of Monument Circle, one bouquet for each victim.
The family of Jaswinder Singh, one of those eight, joined in the somber gathering.
“His two brothers, they’re in India and they want to see last time, his dad, and that’s the main thing now, issue here, so we are trying to get them here,” said Singh’s relative, Harjab Dhillon.
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“No citizen of this nation should leave their place of work, worship or school in the fear of losing their lives, a high amount of casualties have been a result of gun violence not only this year, but many years before. But you want to tell me what action has been taken? Does anyone have an answer for that?” said Gurleen Kaur, one of Singh’s family members to WISH.
US Senator Todd Young joined in the service and addressed the issue of gun violence.
The eight victims have been identified as:
- Matthew R. Alexander, 32
- Samaria Blackwell, 19
- Amarjeet Johal, 66
- Jasvinder Kaur, 50
- Jaswinder Singh, 68
- Amarjit Sekhon, 48
- Karli Smith, 19
- John Weisert, 74
About 150 people attended a second vigil Sunday night at Beech Grove’s City Hall, reports Indianapolis Public Media.
People carried a small plastic light to the top of the steps as a symbol of hope.
“Shine the light, chase away the darkness, go into our community and set this city on fire with a light from above that the darkness must flee,” said Pastor Dan Bailey.
This weekend, eight Gurdwaras issued a joint statement.
Given everything our community has experienced in the past–the pattern of violence, bigotry, and backlash we have faced–it is impossible not to feel that same pain and targeting in this moment.
Our community is grateful for the messages of love and support coming from around the state, country, and world. Now, we must all work together not just to heal, but to take action and confront the terrible plague of hate and acts of mass violence like this that threaten us all.
In the words of Komal Chohan, the granddaughter of Amarjeet Kaur Johal: “Enough is enough. Our community has been through enough trauma.”
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