Washington, DC – Today, August 5, 2016 marks the fourth anniversary of the tragic shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, where six individuals were murdered by a white supremacist. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) stands in solidarity with the community in Oak Creek, Wisconsin and all the Sikh and South Asian communities throughout the country.
“The events in Wisconsin remind us that our Sikh, Muslim, Arab, and South Asian brothers and sisters continue to be targets of hate and violence as backlash from 9/11. Today, we remember the victims whose lives were prematurely taken away from their loved ones. We demand an end to all hate crimes and violence targeting our communities,” called APALA National President Johanna Hester. “At APALA, we reject any type of hateful, bigoted or xenophobic acts and sentiments against Sikhs and Muslims. We recognize that as people of different faiths, political backgrounds, and countries of origin, we are stronger when we are united.”
“Today, we #RememberOakCreek and stand together as a community who has faced too many acts of oppression and hatred. Often have we seen horrific acts of hate and violence at places of worship and spaces which are meant to be safe. From the Charleston church shooting to the most recent shooting at a gay club in Orlando, we need to recognize that safety is an issue for all Americans, especially for communities of color and other marginalized groups,” added APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana. “Sikh Americans face the same threat of terror as anybody else in America. Discriminating against their community only creates more acts of hate within all of our communities.”
APALA continues to advance racial, economic and social justice for all communities of color. We urge lawmakers and politicians to put an end to all hate crimes by creating anti-bias taskforces, rejecting policies that promote profiling and a climate of fear, and refraining from hostile and divisive narratives and rhetoric.
“The events in Wisconsin remind us that our Sikh, Muslim, Arab, and South Asian brothers and sisters continue to be targets of hate and violence as backlash from 9/11. Today, we remember the victims whose lives were prematurely taken away from their loved ones. We demand an end to all hate crimes and violence targeting our communities,” called APALA National President Johanna Hester. “At APALA, we reject any type of hateful, bigoted or xenophobic acts and sentiments against Sikhs and Muslims. We recognize that as people of different faiths, political backgrounds, and countries of origin, we are stronger when we are united.”
“Today, we #RememberOakCreek and stand together as a community who has faced too many acts of oppression and hatred. Often have we seen horrific acts of hate and violence at places of worship and spaces which are meant to be safe. From the Charleston church shooting to the most recent shooting at a gay club in Orlando, we need to recognize that safety is an issue for all Americans, especially for communities of color and other marginalized groups,” added APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana. “Sikh Americans face the same threat of terror as anybody else in America. Discriminating against their community only creates more acts of hate within all of our communities.”
APALA continues to advance racial, economic and social justice for all communities of color. We urge lawmakers and politicians to put an end to all hate crimes by creating anti-bias taskforces, rejecting policies that promote profiling and a climate of fear, and refraining from hostile and divisive narratives and rhetoric.
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