According to Global News, An Edmonton gurdwara has been targetted for the second time targeted by racists.
Members of South Edmonton’s Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha in Mill Woods discovered the phrases “leave Canada” and “f**k Indians” spray painted on the temple walls on Friday.
“Today we discovered something very deeply saddening to us,” Harman Singh Kandola, chairman of the gurdwara’s advisory committee, told Global News. “Some graffiti that was put on the wall of the exterior of our facility.”
According to Global News, gurdwara members have since painted over the graffiti and Friday’s incident isn’t the first time the temple has been targeted by vandals.
“We’re saddened by it, we’re saddened that they would feel this way, however we believe they may just be misinformed,” Kandola said, adding that he doesn’t believe the incident is connected with the shootings in Paris.
Kandola instead sees the incident as a “teachable moment” and hopes people will visit the temple to learn about the faith and culture, Global News reported.
“We would like to use this as an opportunity to invite them to the gurdwara — which is a place that is open to all, of any faith and any background — to learn more about the Sikhs and who we are,” Kandola said. “The Sikhs are a community that believes in equality. We believe in coexisting with everyone… working hard and giving back.”
{{/usCountry}}“We would like to use this as an opportunity to invite them to the gurdwara — which is a place that is open to all, of any faith and any background — to learn more about the Sikhs and who we are,” Kandola said. “The Sikhs are a community that believes in equality. We believe in coexisting with everyone… working hard and giving back.”
{{/usCountry}}According to Global News, gurdwara officials have since filed a report with police and Kandola believes the building’s surveillance video may have captured images of the culprit.