A circle of people formed in Scudder Plaza Thursday night, all gathered to remember the victims of the Sikh temple shooting this past weekend in Wisconsin.
Kanwal Matharu, a Princeton University student who organized the candle light vigil, led the roughly 32 people in reciting traditional Sikh prayers. Similar scenes occurred at vigils Thursday at gurudwaras, or Sikh temples, in Lawrence and Robinsville, on what the Sikh community was calling a national day of remembrance and unity.
The vigils came less than a week after a lone gunman entered a gurudwara in Oak Creek, Wis., on Sunday and killed six people, wounded four others before he turned the gun on himself. On Tuesday, thousands attended a vigil in that community to remember the victims.As a Sikh, Mr. Matharu said the shooting was personal to him. In an interview, he said he learned of the tragedy by going on Facebook, later turning on the cable news.
”It just hit right at the heart,” the New Orleans native said. “It just really hurt.”
Mr. Matharu has been staying in New Jersey this summer so he could work on his senior thesis. He said he originally was not planning to have a vigil at Princeton, until a friend’s message prompted him to do something. The event was advertised on the university’s web page, on Facebook and through emails.
The crowd, mostly up made of young people, started arriving shortly past 8 p.m. After the ceremony, they ate from traditional food called “Parshad,” a combination of wheat, sugar and water.
Afterward, they spoke of the tragedy and explained why they came to Thursday’s vigil.Prajwal Niraula, a Jersey City resident, said it was important to show the values on which America stands.
”I think there are still some people who may not be tolerating other people,” he said. “We should show . . . they are a minority. The majority of people, we accept each other and we value diversity.”
Jodi Elliott, a Princeton resident, said no one should be targeted for his or her religion or skin color.
Princeton Borough resident Sally Chrisman said she came “to join with my community in expressing sorrow and resolve to work for justice.”
This week, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, a Washington, D.C., based organization, had posted on its website an announcement for a national moment of remembrance for this Sunday for the victims.
