Sacramento, Calif. - On Tuesday, approximately 300 students and community members gathered to watch a movie telling the story of one of the deadliest hate crimes in recent U.S. history. The screening, which was held at the Harper Alumni Center on the Sacramento State University campus, was followed by a discussion between representatives from law enforcement agencies and community leaders, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
The acclaimed film, “Waking in Oak Creek," tells the empowering story of how the community of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, responded when six worshipers at a Sikh Temple were killed by a white supremacist during prayer services in 2012. The entire community and law enforcement worked together to overcome tragedy and stand up to hate.
U.S. Attorney Talbert stated: “In the aftermath of the deadly attack on the Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, the entire community rallied together to turn tragedy into an opportunity to unite against hate. The community found positive and inclusive ways to commemorate the victims, which included Sikh worshippers as well as law enforcement officers, and to raise awareness about hate crimes, particularly those directed at Sikhs. I am proud that my office could host a screening of the film that documents that community’s inspiring response to hate and facilitate a discussion about how our community can work together to prevent these crimes from happening in our district."
The U.S. Attorney’s Office organized this event in partnership with the FBI; the Sacramento Sikh and Muslim Communities; Sikh Temple Sacramento; the Tarbiya Institute; the Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento; United Sikhs; Sacramento State University, including the College of Health and Human Services, College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies, Division of Criminal Justice, Department of Sociology, and the University Police Department; Sacramento Police Department; Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office; and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office.
After the screening of the 33-minute film, U.S. Attorney Talbert moderated a panel discussion where law enforcement officials and Sikh and Muslim community leaders offered their perspectives on identifying opportunities and strategies to collaborate in the fight against hate. The panel members were FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Susan Ferensic, Sikh Community leader and filmmaker AJ Singh, Imam and Founder of the Tarbiya Institute Dr. Mohamed Abdul-Azeez, Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn, Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones, and Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert.
The panel discussion was followed by a lively and collaborative question and answer session that gave attendees the opportunity to engage with panelists and have their voices heard on this important issue.
Earlier, U.S. Attorney Talbert hosted similar screening of the film and panel discussions with local community and law enforcement leaders at California State University, Bakersfield and California State University, Fresno.
“Waking in Oak Creek" was produced in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office as part of the Not In Our Town: Working Together for Safe, Inclusive Communities Initiative.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
