Illinois Sikh Community Center In Wheaton Plans Vigil For Shooting Victims

As news of the fatal shooting of seven people at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, WI, spread across the country, both Sikhs and non-Sikhs in the Wheaton community shared their concerns and sadness at the event.

Ravi Singh, spokesman for the Wheaton-based Illinois Sikh Community Center, 2131 Creekside Dr., said the center will hold a vigil at 6:30 p.m. Monday to honor the victims of the shooting.

"We're very saddened on what has happened—we're shocked," Singh said. "(But) we're glad this wasn't racially motivated, and we're happy to hear that the media has responded. .. to be sensitive to this. This is always a concern of ours because of our identity ... because of the turbans and uncut hair we wear."

He added the Illinois Sikh Community Center has received "tons" of calls from religious leaders in the Wheaton community and Chicagoland sharing their condolences, "which is amazing," he said.

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