A UNITED STATES army veteran with links to the far Right has
been named as the suspect in the shooting at a Sikh temple in the
US last Sunday. Six people were killed, and many others were
injured.
The suspect is Michael Wade, who was shot dead by police at the
Sikh temple, in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. This shooting came 16 days
after 12 people were killed and 58 were wounded by a gunman at a
film première in Colorado (News, 27
July).
Church leaders in the US have vowed to "stand in solidarity"
with Sikhs against violence. The President of the National Council
of Churches, Kathryn Lohre, said: "We mourn the tragedy of violence
wherever it occurs. . . We pray for healing and wholeness for all
affected by today's events."
One of the temple's committee members, Ven Boba Ri, told the
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Sikhism is such a peaceful religion.
We have suffered for generations, in India, and even here."
The interim Dean of Washington National Cathedral, the Revd
Frank Wade, said: "We pledge our support for the peaceful Sikh
community, part of this nation's religious heritage for 100
years."
"These kinds of terrible, tragic events", President Obama said,
"are happening with too much regularity for us not to do some
soul-searching to examine additional ways that we can reduce
violence."
The Diocese of Milwaukee is encouraging Episcopalians to
participate in a Day of Prayer for the Sikh Community, on Sunday.
The Bishop of Milwaukee, the Rt Revd Steven Miller, also noted
additional prayer vigils planned in both near-by Milwaukee and 80
miles to the east in Madison.