'Sikh Americans often victims of intolerance and hate'

In the wake of the killing of seven Sikhs at a gurdwara in Wisconsin, United States on Sunday, US Representative Joseph Crowley lamented that Sikh Americans too often become the victims of intolerance and hate.

Crowley said he was waiting for more information about the incident

"We do know that Sikh Americans are too often the victims of intolerance and hate. Today we all grieve for those lost in this tragic event," he said in a statement soon after the killing.

Law enforcement authorities have not yet figured out the motive behind the shooting.

"I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families and community of those injured and killed in today's tragic shooting, and I join the people of Wisconsin and the entire Sikh-American community in mourning. There is no room in any society for such violence," Crowley said.

In the last year, Sikh-Americans have been targeted in New York, Michigan and California.  In April, Crowley led a letter signed by 93 members of Congress, urging the Federal Bureau of Investigation to document and quantify the commission of hate crimes against Sikh Americans.

Meanwhile, the Sikh Coalition, the largest Sikh American civil rights organisation in the US, started an emergency response in the wake of the shootings in Oak Creek, Wisconsin

"The Sikh Coalition's thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the shooting, the Sikh community of Milwaukee, and the larger community of Wisconsin, which we know will stand with their Sikh neighbours with their support and prayers during this very trying time," said executive director Sapreet Kaur.

The gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin was founded in 1997 and had over 400 worshipers from the greater Milwaukee area.

"This temple was built a number of years ago and there has never been any problem with this temple," Oak Creek Alderman Dan Jakubczyk said.

"They have been a plus to this city and to my district," he added.

With over 2.5 crore followers worldwide, Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world, with over 5,00,000 followers in the US.

The coalition said it has been in touch with both the FBI's Civil Rights Division and the White House. Both have promised to continue to be in touch with the coalition as they monitor the situation closely.

"There have been multiple hate crime shootings within the Sikh community in recent years and the natural impulse of our community is to unfortunately assume the same in this case. Let law enforcement investigate the case; as new facts emerge, the dialogue can change," she said.

"Americans died today in a senseless act of violence and Americans of all faiths should stand in unified support with their Sikh brothers and sisters," Kaur said.