A candlelight vigil was held by Saint Louis University InterFaith Alliance in light of the

recent attacks at the Sikh Gurdwara (temple) in Wisconsin, the Joplin mosque burning
and other anti-Muslim hate crimes that occurred this summer. The event took place at the
Clock Tower Plaza early Wednesday evening.

Student speakers from various faith and non-faith traditions offered reflection.

On Aug. 5, 2012, a gunman walked into a Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wis. He killed
six worshipers and wounded two others before taking his own life.

The following day, an Islamic center and mosque was burned to the ground in Joplin,
Mo. Investigators said it was arson.

Sara Rahim and Olivia White, co-presidents of InterFaith Alliance, welcomed everyone
who attended the vigil.

“Tonight, we are all together as we respond to these national tragedies,” Rahim
said, “to respond, however, we must learn and know whom we are embracing. We must
understand and get to know each other.”

After that, Kiran Singh, a student raised in the Sikh and Hindu traditions, reflected about
living in a world with its physical boundaries blurred by social media.

“Exposure to different beliefs does not necessarily lead to acceptance,” she said, “but I
hope that one day, humanity will be able to break down barriers and divisions
in beliefs to eventually live peacefully.”

Contemplating how the SLU community would have reacted, had an incident like one of
these happened near campus, White said, “Your presence tonight shows that people in
this community clearly do [care].”

Srikanth Chiravuri, student at SLU’s Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and
Technology, recited a Sikh prayer, asking people from all cultures to be accepting of each
other.

“Let all the worlds be happy, that people of all races, religions, ethnicities and languages
should be happy and coexist,” said Deval Patel, translating the Sikh prayer.

The ceremony continued with a speech from Faizan Syed, Executive Director of Council
on American-Islamic Relations – St. Louis. He explained that the rise of many hate
crimes is due to negative portrayals of some religions by certain media outlets. He said
that we should all overcome this fear and learn more about other faiths.

The candle lighting and a moment of silence concluded the vigil. Over one hundred
students and faculty members attended.