Central Texans unite for Sikh victims

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A large crowd gathered in Austin Tuesday night to remember the six worshippers gunned down at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin Sunday.

Central Texas is home to about 300 people who practice the Sikh faith, and many of them showed up to the State Capitol for a candlelight vigil.

There were also people from a number of other religious backgrounds who stood together to remember the tragedy.

The crowd held candles and prayed together for the victims and the family of the gunman.

Jay Kahlon has been a Sikh all of his life and came out to show love and support.

"Everyone of us feels like a brother to me and so every time we lose somebody in this type of tragic event it feels like I've lost a family member," said Kahlon.

The vigil was a combined effort of the University of Texas Sikh Student Association and the local Sikh community.

Authorities say they still do not know what triggered the shooter, but some Sikhs believe the killings are another misdirected act of hatred toward them since 9/11.

Sikhism originated 500 years ago in India and is the fifth largest religion in the world.

Due to the turbans Sikh men wear, they are often mistaken for Taliban or Islamic extremists. Local Sikhs say they are peace loving people who do not condone violence against people of any faith.

Local Sikhs are using the tragedy as an opportunity to grow.

"If anything we should take strength from this," said Mandeep Kaur with the University of Texas Sikh Student Association.