GREENWOOD, Ind. — Members of the Greenwood Sikh Community and representatives from the City of Greenwood came together Thursday to honor the victims of the FedEx mass shooting.
The vigil was held at the Surina Square Park Amphitheater. Members of the Sikh community took the time to learn each victim’s name, and even read a small story about who all eight of them were. Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers and Police Chief James Ison also spoke at the vigil.
Of the eight victims, half of them were Sikh. Sundeep Singh told WISH-TV that while many Sikh people don’t see the shooting as a hate crime, some still do.
“We’re the fifth-largest religion in the world, yet no one here really knows about us. Our religion isn’t taught in the school system. Some of these young kids look at us as Muslim and, after 9/11, we face that,” said Singh.
Despite this, he says a major part of being Sikh is believing in peace and togetherness. In the aftermath of the shooting, Singh believes this belief should be the focus.
“No matter what you are, if you’re a Sikh, Muslim, Jew, Christian, it doesn’t matter,” said Singh. “We are all human.”
Michael Williams, who represents District 3 in Greenwood, agrees. “How do we look at that again, not being two different people, but rather one community, one nation where we move together forward?” Williams said.
