ROCKVILLE, Md. -
The Sikh community in Montgomery County held a special prayer service Monday night at the Sikh temple on Travilah Road in Rockville.
"I always believe that when innocent people are killed, their blood speaks," says Chief Priest Bhai Gurdarshan Singh.
He talked about a line in their holy book.
"It says … that this universe is a garden of God. And he's the gardener," says Singh. "And every human being is a different flower with a different fragrance. And how can you, when God has created it, how can you discriminate (against) somebody?"
Outside the temple, people have been leaving flowers.
"It gives us a lot of comfort knowing that we're not alone," says Parvinder Sodhi. "The whole community is behind us."
Sikh community member Gursean Singh shared a story with us.
"I was on the street today, at the parking meter, just paying my parking and then someone comes by and just has a whole conversation with me and personally apologizes," he says. "He felt he had to apologize on behalf of the nation, which really warmed my heart."
In the temple's basement, young people were making posters for a candlelight vigil Tuesday night.
"On these posters, we're going to explain who we are," says Nuri Kaur, a 17-year-old senior at Rockville's Wootton High School. "We're going to educate people that we are Sikhs, but we're also Americans. We're peaceful. We have never committed acts of terrorism."
"The proper pronunciation is (sick), and literally it means to learn," explains Gursean Singh. "The whole philosophy behind our faith is that we are always learning."
Especially about themselves. And sometimes, others.
"Whether he was misguided or not, I do believe it was an act of discrimination. And I do believe it was a hate crime," says Kaur about the alleged Wisconsin temple shooter.
And still, their minds think positively.
"I know that with time our community will heal," says Gursean Singh. "We're a very resilient community."
