Candlelight Vigil for Mumbai Victims in University of Washington
Posted by seattle on December 4, 2008
December 3, 2008
University of Washington, Seattle
Historic Taj Hotel Building under seige
Over 250 people gathered for a candlelight vigil held at the Red Square in the University of Washington campus to pay condolences to the victims of Mumbai attacks in India. The terrorist attacks happened last week at various locations in Mumbai, the financial hub of India, and the authorities have confirmed 171 deaths and 294 injured victims so far.
The vigil, titled “Together Against Terrorism”, was organized by students groups in University of Washington (UW) namely HinduYUVA, Indian Students’ Association and South Asian Students Association, and saw a strong participation from many Indian organizations, religious and ethnic groups in the Greater Seattle region. These included Hindu Swayamsewak Sangh, Indian Association of Western Washington, Art of Living, Seattle Maharashtra Mandal, Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, Sanatan Dharma Temple – Maple Valley, Orthodox Christian Church and Jewish Groups.
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Everybody lit candles and paid condolences to the victims by observing silence for a few minutes and reciting a prayer together for the spread of peace, happiness and unity in the world. The event saw short speeches from different representatives of the community. David Longnecker, an Art of Living Foundation volunteer, focused on the need of outreach and dialogue to prevent such events. Rabbi Elie Estrin, from Chabad Jewish Center, implored the people to respond to such acts with the acts of kindness. Ankit Gupta, President of HinduYUVA students’ group in University emphasized on the need for students to direct their enthusiasm and energy to the cause of uniting the society and caring for each other. The attacks were also condemned by Mr. George Moore from International Students Office, University of Washington.
In the end, those present at the vigil read out a common resolution adopted against such cowardly terrorist attacks, the exact text of which is given below.
Resolution of ‘Together Against Terrorism’
December 3, 2008
University of Washington, Seattle
Last week the world witnessed yet another senseless act of terrorism in Mumbai, India. The terrorists’ prime targets were citizens of India, United States, United Kingdom, and Israel. Around 180 innocent lives were lost and more than 300 people injured in this heinous act against peaceful civilians. We, the undersigned organizations from UW and the Greater Seattle area strongly condemn these coordinated terrorist attacks in India.
We offer our deepest condolences to the families, who lost their loved ones. May their souls rest in peace! We also pray for the rapid recovery of those injured, and offer our support to them and their near ones in every way we can.
The scourge of terrorism knows no borders. Inaction or indifference to such acts will only aid the negative forces. To effectively address this global menace, we require unity, resolution, and response from the civil society across all borders and faiths. And hence,
- We resolve to stand united and fight together against terrorism anywhere and everywhere in the world.
- We demand that the Indian Government establish strong systems to protect our sisters and brothers staying in India.
- We urge the international community to fully co-operate in pursuing the conspirators and perpetrators of these violence acts to the end, and bring them to justice.
Together Against Terrorism –
- Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, Seattle
- Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Seattle
- Hindu YUVA, UW
- Indian Association of Western Washington
- Indian Students Association, UW
- NWShare, Seattle
- Samskrita Bharati, Seattle
- Sanatan Dharma Temple, Maple Valley
- Seattle Maharashtra Mandal
- South Asian Students Association, UW
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