CoHNA Makes Case On The Hill For Acknowledgement Of Hinduphobia
India-West Staff Reporter
WASHINGTON, DC – Lawmakers, Hindu students, researchers, and community leaders gathered on June 28 for the third National Hindu Advocacy Day on the Hill to address the concerns faced by Hindus in the U.S. The event, organized by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), saw participation from nearly 25 lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, as well as congressional representatives and staffers.
CoHNA highlighted the multi-faceted challenges Hindus encounter, ranging from stereotypical colonial frameworks and verbal slurs to the vandalism of temples. Over 100 delegates, including many Hindu youth from 15 states, attended the event. Additionally, more than 40 CoHNA volunteers visited over 115 congressional offices to advocate support for H.Res.1131, a resolution condemning Hinduphobia and attacks on temples while celebrating the contributions of the Hindu American community.
CoHNA President Nikunj Trivedi emphasized the growing importance of Advocacy Day in engaging the community with lawmakers. He also noted the support from other organizations and non-Hindu allies.
The event featured a panel of Hindu students from Stanford, UC Berkeley, and the University of Georgia, who shared personal testimonies about the challenges they face on campus. Surya Naga, Youth Director for Hindu on Campus, presented data from student testimonials highlighting the impact of these experiences.
Congressman Max Miller (R-OH) opened the event, underscoring the importance of religious freedom and expressing his support for H.Res.1131. He empathized with the Hindu community’s issues and committed to standing against all forms of hate and bigotry.
Congressman Shri Thanedar (D-MI), the force behind H.Res.1131, spoke about the necessity of the resolution, his immigration story, and the significant voice the Hindu community has in Congress. Congressmen Rich McCormick (R-GA) and Glenn Grothman (R-WI) also expressed their solidarity with the community.
Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) concluded the day by celebrating the growth of the community’s advocacy over the past decade. He encouraged attendees to take pride in their heritage and roots.
Aaron Gross, a Research Fellow at the Network Contagion Research Institute, presented an analysis of online chatter related to anti-Hindu hate incidents. He pointed to the involvement of Khalistan movement supporters and noted the significant role of bot networks in amplifying anti-Hindu sentiment. Rana Reddy, CoHNA’s Policy Fellow, discussed findings from a Carnegie Mellon University report on organized cybercrime and disinformation tactics used to propagate Hinduphobia globally.
