Source: Salem News
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/november042006/jory_sikh_11406.php
A small portion of the nearly one million Sikhs in the U.S.A and Canada gathered in Salem Saturday, coming from all over the northwest to, in a way, neutralize the negative energy of July 22nd. That is when someone set fire to a flag with Khanda, the symbol of the Sikh faith on it, outside of the Dashmesh Darbar Sikh Temple on Oakhill Ave SE in South Salem.
This type of hate crime is nothing new to the Sikh people who are commonly mistaken for Islamic extremists because of, in part, the similar style of clothing they wear.
They pulled two floats down south Commercial Street in a rich display of beautiful singing and colorful clothing. In front of the floats were guardians of the Guru Granth Sahib, the eternal spiritual guide of the Sikhs. Riding on and walking between the floats were many people of all ages, singing and laughing even though it was a cloudy day filled with rain and cool temperatures.
The parade was a celebration of the 537th anniversary of Guru Nanak’s birthday, the founder of Sikhism, who wandered through many lands preaching a message of love and understanding and criticized the blind rituals of the Hindus and Muslims.