RICHFIELD, Ohio -- Candlelight vigils were held Wednesday across the nation, and in Greater Cleveland, to remember the victims of the mass shooting at a Sikh temple in suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
At the Gurudwara, or Sikh temple, in Richfield, about 50 Sikh followers lit candles to share their sorrow and sympathy.
"I'm really grieving about it and really sympathize with them," said Sonia Attar.
Singing "God is Truth" in their native Punjabi language, they paid tribute to the 6 people killed and 3 wounded when a white supremacist gunman opened fire at the Oak Creek temple last Sunday.
Across the nation, there were more signs of sympathy, as all public buildings were ordered by President Barack Obama to fly the flag at half-staff for five days.
On Wednesday, the FBI announced that the gunman, Wade Page, was not shot dead by police, as previously thought. An autopsy revealed that Page died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Since the events of September 11, 2001, turban-wearing Sikhs have been mistakenly targeted as Muslims. Many of the nation's half million followers of the Sikh faith are first and second generation immigrants from India.
"We may look different, but we are as hard-working as any other citizen in this country," said Gurcharan Singh, the gurudwara secretary.
As they chanted, "God: Keep us safe from hatred," in Punjabi, local Sikhs like Jyoti Bhatia still have hope that future generations will not know hate, but rather the light of peace.
"It'll be better. It'll be better. That's the belief that we have," she said.
WKYC-TV