INDIANAPOLIS: United States Senator U.S. Senator Todd Young of Republican Party will visit the Gurdwara Sikh Satsang, Acton, on April 18 (Sunday) to express his support and solidarity to the grieving Hoosier Sikh community over the deaths of eight innocent employees, including four members of the Sikh community, in a shooting in FedEx parking area on Thursday night.
According to Sikh Community leader Singh U. S. Congressman André Carson is also likely to visit the Gurdwara Sikh Satsang, Acton Road.
"We will taking a few minutes to offer special prayers for the victims of this tragedy during Baisakhi Celebration, a high holy day on the Sikh religious calendar. So many of you have sent thoughtful messages of sympathy and friendship over this grave tragedy. We thank each and every one of you and we would welcome your presence for this brief "Prayer for Healing" as one Hoosier American family that is deeply wounded and saddened by this horrific crime. We would also welcome any of you who can stay for a vegetarian langar (lunch) and fellowship time."
"Prayer for Healing" will be about 15 minutes beginning around 12:30 p.m. The devotees may bring their scarves to cover your head.
Meanwhile eight Indianapolis area gurdwaras' representatives have issued a joint statement following the Fedex Facility shooting near Indianapolis International Airport.
The following statement was released by representatives of eight Indianapolis-area gurdwaras, or Sikh houses of worship, including
Reprrsentatives of Gurdwara Gur Nanak Darbar (Plainfield), Gurdwara Guru Nanak Sikh Society (Raymond), Gurdwara Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib (Greenwood), Gurdwara Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis (Acton), Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar (Fishers), Gurdwara Sri Guru Granth Sahib Society (McCordsville), Darbar Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Indianapolis), and Sikh Society of Indianapolis issued the following joint statement.
"Like all of Indianapolis, our community is coming together to grieve and mourn after Thursday night’s horrific attack.
"Eight people, including four from our community, have been taken from their families, friends, and communities, and others are still injured. We are praying for the families of all involved, that they may find peace and begin the long path to physical, mental, and spiritual healing.
"We do not yet know the motive of the shooter, and we may never know for sure what drove him to do what he did. We do know, however, that the FedEx facility he targeted was well known for having a large Sikh workforce. Given everything our community has experienced in the past--the pattern of violence, bigotry, and backlash we have faced--it is impossible not to feel that same pain and targeting in this moment. We expect that the authorities will continue their full investigation and share what they learn when they can, and they will take this into account.
"Our community is grateful for the messages of love and support coming from around the state, country, and world. Now, we must all work together not just to heal, but to take action and confront the terrible plague of hate and acts of mass violence like this that threaten us all."