Editing:2022.07.15 congressional briefing announcement

July 15, 2022 (Washington, DC) — On Tuesday, July 26, 2022, the Sikh Coalition will convene speakers from communities harmed by hate violence—the Sikh community of Oak Creek, WI; the Black community in Charleston, SC; and the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, PA—along with elected officials for a virtual congressional briefing.

Register here to join Honoring Oak Creek, Charleston, and Pittsburgh Through Action: A Virtual Congressional Briefing at 1 PM EST on July 26, as our panelists discuss lessons learned from these previous tragedies and policy solutions to secure a safer future for marginalized communities. Speakers will include:

Harpreet Singh Saini is the son of Paramjit Kaur, who was one of 7 Sikhs killed in the August 5, 2012, mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, WI. At the time of his mother’s murder, Harpreet was 18 years old. Weeks later, he testified before the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. Senate; his account spurred elected officials to finally require the Federal Bureau of Investigation to start tracking anti-Sikh hate crimes and bias incidents.

Pastor Eric S. C. Manning is Senior Pastor of the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC, where nine persons were shot to death on June 17, 2015. In his capacity, Pastor Manning has been responsible for leading the congregation on a journey of healing and recovery. He has worked with the National Crime Victim Research & Treatment Center of the Medical University of South Carolina to ensure that comprehensive services were available to the survivors, families, and the community at-large.

Rabbi Jeffrey Meyers is Rabbi and Cantor for Tree of Life Synagogue, Pittsburgh. The synagogue was targeted in a mass shooting on October 27, 2018, that killed 11 worshippers. Rabbi Myers—who himself survived the attack—has served in his position since the summer of 2017, having moved to Pittsburgh after spending decades in ministry in New Jersey and Long Island.

During this congressional briefing, elected officials and their staff are invited to listen to speakers’ remarks and ask questions about various policy prescriptions to reduce the hate violence that has become more and more deadly in the decade since Oak Creek. The Sikh Coalition continues to stand with all communities who have been targeted by mass shootings as well as hate crimes, systemic discrimination, and other forms of prejudice.

This briefing joins a slate of activities the Sikh Coalition is undertaking to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the attack on Oak Creek. In the weeks ahead, we will share information about specific policies that all sangat members can engage their elected officials on in order to honor those lost to hate violence. Additionally, the Sikh Coalition, the Sikh American Legal Education and Defense Fund, and the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee are supporting the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin as they host commemorative events over the weekend of August 5. And finally, read about the Sikh Coalition’s National Day of Seva efforts: Sangats in more than 10 cities have already signed on to participate!

As always, the Sikh Coalition urges you to practice your faith fearlessly.

Capitol Hill Briefing with Oak Creek, Charleston, and Pittsburgh Community Members on July 26