San Jose Vigil Held For Wisconsin Sikh Temple Shooting Victims

SAN JOSE (KCBS) – More than a thousand people gathered on Wednesday night in San Jose for a candlelight vigil to remember those who were fatally shot at a Wisconsin Sikh Temple last weekend.

It was an especially somber mood at Sikh Gurdwara San Jose, the largest Sikh temple in the nation, as the killings hit close to home for many members of the South Bay Sikh community.

KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:

At least two of the people that were shot spent time studying their religion at the San Jose temple.

"Those people that were here were very close to each other," said acting priest Mohinder Singh Bajwa through a translator. "We had good conversations with them and good times too. Our hearts are really hurt now."

The vigil attracted leaders of many religious faiths.

American Muslim Voice Executive Director Samina Sundas said the tragedy in Wisconsin shows the importance of learning about different cultures.

"Ignorance breeds fear and until you get to know somebody, you're going to be afraid of other people," she said.

Similar vigils were also held Wednesday in Hayward and Fremont.

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