Wisconsin News

Sikhs added to hate crime stats year after Wis. shooting

Friday, August 02, 2013

In this July 27, 2013, photo children play in the lobby underneath photographs of the six worshippers killed last year by a white supremacist at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wis. Monday is the one-year anniversary that members say they'll mark with solemn religious rites and a candlelight vigil. (AP Photo/Dinesh Ramde)

Tags:

wisconsin news

August 2, 2013 (WASHINGTON) -- The Justice Department will begin keeping numbers on hate crimes committed against Sikhs and six other groups, in connection with Monday's one-year anniversary of the killing of six Sikh worshippers in Oak Creek, Wis.

The Associated Press Friday obtained a copy of Attorney General Eric Holder's blog post of the decision, ahead of its official release later in the day. Holder said FBI Director Robert Mueller had approved a recommendation from the agency's advisory policy board to track hate crimes against Sikhs, Hindus, Arabs, Buddhists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses and Orthodox Christians.

The addition had long been sought by members of the Sikh community.