The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) staff on the Capitol for the third Nationwide Hindu Advocacy Day, in Washington DC, US, on June 28, 2024 | Photograph Credit score: PTI
Outstanding American lawmakers have pledged their assist to Indian Individuals to struggle Hinduphobia and discrimination in opposition to the minority Hindu group in the USA.
Hosted by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), the third Nationwide Hindu Advocacy Day attracted a number of Hindu college students, researchers, and group leaders on June 28 to debate considerations going through Hindus dwelling within the US. USA
“We’re right here and we’re combating,” mentioned Congressman Shri Thanedar in his speech throughout the day-long advocacy occasion.
“The voice that each one of you could have, the voice that the Hindu group has in Congress,” mentioned Mr. Thanedar, a Democrat, who launched Home Decision 1131 (H.Res. 1131), which condemns Hinduphobia and assaults on temples, whereas celebrating the contribution of the Hindu American group.
He mentioned he wouldn’t tolerate Hinduphobia, discrimination or different types of hatred.
Congressman Wealthy McCormick welcomed the continued and rising engagement of the Hindu American and Indian American communities in policymaking and their potential to remodel the way forward for the USA.
The GOP lawmaker drew consideration to his assist for Home Decision 1131, which honors the contributions of Hindu Individuals, and referred to as on the group to proceed pursuing the American dream, which celebrates innovation, exhausting work, success and its traditions.
Republican Congressman Glen Grothman expressed solidarity with the group and Congressman Ro Khanna celebrated the expansion of group advocacy over the previous decade.
Urging folks to be pleased with who they’re, Mr. Khanna, a Democrat, congratulated the viewers for coming to DC for an occasion that exemplified satisfaction of their heritage and roots.
Congressman Max Miller spoke concerning the significance of non secular freedom and shared his satisfaction in supporting Home Decision 1131.
He expressed empathy with the issues that the Hindu group has been going through and guaranteed that he would proceed to oppose all types of hatred and intolerance throughout the nation, in accordance with a press launch.
Miller, a Republican, acknowledged that it was a troublesome time for the nation and mentioned he could be there for the Hindu group.
“If something have been to occur to your group, I shall be there, shoulder to shoulder with you,” he mentioned.
He additionally requested the viewers to face agency and by no means stray from their values.
COHNA mentioned that this 12 months, Hindus have confronted assaults on a number of fronts, starting from the continued use of stereotypical colonial frameworks to gaslighting and verbal insults, and vandalism of a number of temples.
Attendees heard candid private testimonies from a strong panel of Indian college students from Stanford, UC Berkeley, and the College of Georgia.
They took an in-depth have a look at the challenges they face on campus, in tutorial settings, and even of their dorms. Their voices and tales delivered to mild the prevalent Hinduphobia on campus and the way it impacts their lives and the alternatives they make.
Greater than 100 delegates, together with a lot of Hindu youth from 15 US states, attended the occasion.
Greater than 40 CoHNA volunteers visited over 115 Congressional workplaces to advocate for assist of Home Decision 1131, which condemns Hinduphobia and assaults on temples whereas celebrating the contributions of the Hindu-American group, in accordance with CoHNA.
