Documentary on Violence in America, Sparked by Wisconsin Sikh Shooting, Raising Funds on Kickstarter

Alison Lesley · Oct 4, 2013 · 2 min read

Visit ‘The Peacemakers’ Kickstarter Project

Documentary filmmaker Amardeep Kaleka’s newest project, PeaceMakers is a film that examines the problem of violence in America. The film tackles such issues as gun control, mental health, education, media, and child-caregiver relations, and it examines the influence of Hollywood and video games.

PeaceMakers Kickstarter Campaign Video:
The motivation for the film began on August 5, 2012, when a lone gunman entered the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin and opened fire. In the end, six innocent people were killed, one of them being Kaleka’s father, Satwant Singh Kaleka. Kaleka’s family had helped to build the temple and worshipped there every Sunday.

Following this senseless act of cruelty, Kaleka began a mission to interview those who are making strides in the study and solution of violence, dubbed PeaceMakers — survivors of violence, reformed criminals, advocates, and researchers.

Satwant Singh Kaleka, gunned down alongside six other beautiful people at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin

The project’s Kickstarter page states:

“With a new understanding of the small steps we can take to make a difference, they unite to launch education campaigns and political movements, and ultimately come closer to peace with their own tragic losses.”

The project was launched on Kickstarter September 18, with a 31 day goal of $14,000. The campaign currently has over 190 backers and over $12,000 pledged to date.

60% of the film has been completed so far, with interviews from Stanford researches, Columbine and Tucson Safeway shooting survivors, Washington DC politicians and lobbyists, violence experts, authors, and well-known civil rights leaders Reverend Al Sharpton and Congressman John Lewis.

Visit ‘The Peacemakers’ Kickstarter Project

PeaceMakers is being produced by Amardeep Kaleka’s company, Neverending Light Productions.