Temple victims support review of hate-crime laws

Talk about it

The son of the Oak Creek Sikh Temple president who was killed in this month’s shooting spree says he’d like to see hate groups classified as terrorist organizations.

Amardeep Kaleka said his family supports a request for a congressional hearing made Aug. 21 by the Sikh Coalition and 150 other groups. They want the U.S. Senate’s Judiciary Committee to review federal hate-crime laws and the proliferation of hate groups, while the Oak Creek tragedy is fresh in people’s minds.

Kaleka’s father Satwant was among six people killed and four wounded when white supremacist Wade Michael Page opened fire at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin Aug. 5.

In a letter requesting the hearing, the groups also cited incidents against Muslims in seven other states. They’ve questioned the validity of federal hate crime statistics, since it’s only voluntary for local police to report them. And they’re uncertain whether previous hate crime laws are being adequately enforced.

Retiring Wisconsin Senate Democrat Herb Kohl is a member of the Judiciary Committee. A panel aide said Chairman Patrick Leahy has received the letter, and he expects several members to be interested in having a hearing.

Tags: crime, government, wisconsin