JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- Oak Creek, Wisconsin may be 1100 miles away...but the pain of sunday's shooting can be felt here in Jacksonville.
"WE all stand with them. We are deeply saddened with the inciden..this tragedy that happened," Sukhbir Singh said.
Police say Wade Michael Page...killed six people, before engaging police in a shootout. Unspecified evidence suggests race or ethncity may have played a role in the violence...but no links to extremist groups have been confirmed.
"I thought it was the safest place to be on earth. We're in Oak Creek. Apparently not," a little girl in Wisconsin said.
Singh started the Sikh Society of Northeast Florida several years ago. He speaks to local colleges and organziations about sikhism...which has often been consused for Islam post 9/11. That confusion has caused characterists of the Sikh religion, like long beards and torbans...to be misinterpreted.
Singh says sunday's shooting is a chilling reminder that his people could become targets.
"Someone just comes in and completely violates that. Does that scare you here locally?" we asked.
"I mean, it does. because you're going with a different mindset when you go to the temple. You're going to relieve and do meditations. So, you might be caught off guard," he said.
Singh says Sikhism does not advocate violence or extremist views...something he wants everyone to remember.
"Don't go by how people look like. Go by what they're doing in life."
Local Sikh followers held a candelight vigil for the Wisconsin victims Sunday night. They plan to continue praying and lending support as long as needed.
