HPD Chief Attends as Sikh Center Remembers Wisconsin Massacre
Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland Jr. (in uniform) attended a Rememberance Service on the first anniversary of the Oak Creek massacre last Sunday, August 11. With him, from the right are Bobby Singh and HPD Office Muzzafar Siddiqui, Raju Ahuja and other guests. Photos: Jaswant Singh
HOUSTON: On Sunday, August 11, Houston’s Sikh community held an education and awareness program at the The Sikh Center in remembrance of the mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Oak Creek, Wisconsin on August 5, 2012, when a white supremacist killed six Sikh Americans who were preparing for a Sunday service. Lt. Brian Murphy of the Oak Creek Police Department stopped the shooter, Wade Michael Page who later committed suicide, from his shooting rampage sustaining over a dozen of bullet wounds but miraculously survived.
President of the Sikh Center, Kanwaljeet Singh presenting HPD Chief Charles McClleland a book on Sikhism as a token of our appreciation
A year since the shooting, the Sikh American community has still suffered from hate crimes across the country. However, much like other Sikh communities across the United States, the Houston community has chosen to move forward to turn this tragedy into an opportunity to educate their fellow Americans.
It is the hope of the Houston Sikh Community that these events help bring awareness to our broader community to help prevent any future attacks on American places of worship.
From left: Gurmeet Singh Kindra, Police Chief McClleland, Kanwaljeet Singh, President of Sikh Center, Raju Ahuja.
“This was a great effort in opening our doors. We need to continue to march ahead,” said Bobby Singh, who co-organized Sunday’s event with Manpreet Singh and the Sikh Center Management and President Kanwaljeet Singh.
Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland, Jr. was the keynote speaker at the program. In his remarks to the congregation, he described the parallels of his childhood and career with the strife of the Sikh community. McClelland grew up in the era of Jim Crow laws, which segregated whites and blacks. He spoke of the change that was implemented in his community as civil rights were fully enacted, enabling him to rise through the ranks and ultimately be appointed by Mayor Annise Parker to his current position, leading the police department of America’s fourth largest city.
Emcee of the Event: Manpreet Singh
McClelland’s official visit to the Houston Gurdwara and his participation in the traditional religious ceremony was a noteworthy gesture during the memorial attended by Houstonians from all walks of life for the Oak Creek victims. In addition to the service, an educational presentation of the basics of Sikhism and English translations of the services were presented.
The Sikh Center President, Kanwaljeet Singh presented a book on Sikhism as a special gift on behalf of the community to Chief McClelland. Manpreet Singh, emcee for this special gathering themed “Bring a Friend” kept the program flowing, which included traditional hymns called Shabad Kirtan and featured other speakers.