A group of eminent Hindu Americans has urged US lawmakers to take steps against rising Hinduphobia activities in the United States and protect the rights of the Hindu community in the country.
21 Congressmen and Congressional staffers attended the Second National Hindu Advocacy Day at the US Capitol during which the lawmakers said that there is a need to pay attention to discrimination against Hindus in the US.
There is a need to pay attention to how “there is discrimination not just by race but also by religion and Hinduphobia and intimidation of the Hindu community is an old problem,” Congressman Rich McCormick said. McCormick further said that bills like California’s SB403 “are racist, discriminatory and divisive, since they seek to classify people in ways that the people themselves reject.”
“The Hindu religion is a peaceful one, yet it has been attacked and needs to be protected. Like others, Hindus deserve to be able to practice their religion without any kind of hate, prejudice, or phobia. As a Congressman, I myself noted the lack of a Hindu caucus and therefore helped create one,” Congressman Sri Thanedar said on the occasion.
“Hindus are under attack in the US,” Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani said.
Nikunj Trivedi, president of the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) said, “It’s been a productive year of advocacy for the Hindu community with states like Georgia and cities as far apart as Fremont, California, and Memphis, Tennessee, seeking to educate about the problem with resolutions and proclamations against Hinduphobia. We also witnessed history as the growing popularity of Hindu festivals like Diwali led to the successful declaration of the festival as a holiday in New York City public schools.”
The event was organized by the CoHNA.
