Out of Tragedy, We Stand Together as One Community

Statement

Today, it's with a heavy heart that we remember the victims of last year's Sikh Temple tragedy in Oak Creek. Last Thursday, Senator Baldwin led an effort to pass a resolution in the U.S. Senate to remember the one year anniversary of the tragic shooting.

On Friday, Tammy joined the Sikh community and shared these words to remember and honor the victims of this senseless violence:

I could not be more honored to be here with you today, to join you as we remember the victims of violence at the Sikh Gurdwara on August 5, 2013.

I would like to start by thanking federal law enforcement that is represented here today, as well as, local law enforcement and our first responders whose actions on that tragic day, and every day for that matter, are nothing short of heroic.

We stand together today with deep respect for the public service of our entire law enforcement community.

I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Mayor Scaffidi for his public service and his leadership working to bring this community together.

As we join together as one community, we stand united to remember and honor the victims of this senseless and violent attack at a house of worship.

We hold their families in our hearts-- the parents, spouses, children, siblings, and friends who've carried the weight of losing a loved one- and stand side by side to help carry that weight.

Inspired by the selfless sacrifice of those who put themselves in harms way on that tragic day.

Inspired by those who protected others, including children who courageously ran inside the Temple to warn others.

And inspired by our Sikh community whose response to this tragedy over the last year is not only an inspiration to me, and to every citizen in Wisconsin-- your grace and hopeful message of peace has inspired a nation.

You have faced this tragedy and loss and worked to rise above it.

You have worked to seize the opportunity to inspire healing and hope for us all.

You have reminded us of the American values that hold us together as one community. And you have reminded us of the values that define us as one people.

So on this solemn day let us draw strength from the sacrifice of those we honor. Let us come together and remember them and the values that we share.

Let us all be inspired by the strength we gain by standing together as one community.

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