The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) Crew at Capitol Hill for the third Nationwide Hindu Advocacy Day, in Washington D.C., U.S.A., on June 28, 2024
| Photograph Credit score: PTI

Outstanding American lawmakers have pledged their assist to Indian People to combat in opposition to Hinduphobia and discrimination in opposition to the minority Hindu neighborhood within the U.S.

Organised by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), the third Nationwide Hindu Advocacy Day attracted a number of Hindu college students, researchers, and neighborhood leaders on June 28 to debate the considerations confronted by the Hindus residing within the US.

“We’re right here, and we’re combating,” Congressman Shri Thanedar stated in his handle on the day-long advocacy.

“The voice you all have, the voice the Hindu neighborhood has in Congress,” stated Mr. Thanedar, a Democrat, who has launched Home Decision 1131 (H.Res 1131), which condemns Hinduphobia and assaults on temples, whereas celebrating the contribution of the Hindu American neighborhood.

He stated that he wouldn’t tolerate Hinduphobia, discrimination, or different types of hate.

Congressman Wealthy McCormick welcomed the continued and rising engagement of the Hindu American and Indian American neighborhood in coverage making and its potential to rework the way forward for America.

The Republican Celebration lawmaker known as consideration to his assist for Home Decision 1131, honouring the contributions of Hindu People, and requested the neighborhood to proceed pursuing the American dream, which celebrates innovation, arduous work, success, and its traditions.

Republican Congressman Glen Grothman expressed solidarity with the neighborhood, and Congressman Ro Khanna celebrated the expansion of the neighborhood’s advocacy over the previous decade.

Exhorting folks to be pleased with who they’re, Mr. Khanna, a Democrat, congratulated the viewers on coming to DC for an occasion that exemplified delight of their heritage and roots.

Congressman Max Miller spoke in regards to the significance of freedom of faith and shared his delight in supporting Home Decision 1131.

He expressed empathy with the problems the Hindu neighborhood has been dealing with and guaranteed that he would proceed to face in opposition to all types of hate and bigotry all through the nation, a media launch stated.

Mr. Miller, a Republican, acknowledged that it was a troublesome time for the nation and asserted that he can be there for the Hindu neighborhood.

“If something had been to occur to your neighborhood, I will be there, standing shoulder to shoulder with you,” he stated.

He additionally requested the viewers to face robust and by no means again away from their values.

COHNA stated that this 12 months, Hindus have confronted multi-pronged assaults, starting from the continued utilization of stereotypical colonial frameworks to gaslighting and verbal slurs, and the vandalisations of a number of temples.

Attendees heard heartfelt private testimonies from a robust panel of Hindu college students from Stanford, UC Berkeley, and the College of Georgia.

They delved into the challenges confronted on campus, in educational settings, and even of their dorm rooms. Their voices and tales introduced house the prevalent Hinduphobia on campus and the best way it shapes their lives and the alternatives they make.

Over 100 delegates, together with a lot of Hindu youths from 15 U.S. states, attended the occasion.

Greater than 40 core CoHNA volunteers visited over 115 congressional places of work to advocate assist for Home Decision 1131, which condemns Hinduphobia and assaults on temples whereas celebrating the contribution of the Hindu-American neighborhood, in response to the CoHNA.