Washington DC: On June 28, 2024, US lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, attended the Third National Hindu Advocacy Day by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) on Capitol Hill. The event addressed growing concerns by Hindus in the US, around “stereotypical colonial frameworks, gaslighting and verbal slurs” as well as vandalism of temples.
Over 100 delegates including Hindu students, researchers, volunteers and community leaders from approximately 15 states attended the event. According to a statement by CoHNA, more than 40 CoHNA volunteers visited over 115 congressional offices to advocate support for H.Res.1131, which condemns Hinduphobia and attacks on temples, and celebrates the contributions of the Hindu American community.
“From students to retired community members of diverse backgrounds, CoHNA’s Advocacy Day has grown steadily to become an important mechanism through which our community engages with lawmakers on the Hill,” remarked CoHNA President Nikunj Trivedi. “We are also glad to see other organizations as well as non-Hindu allies join us in support of the causes that matter to our community and especially our youth.”
Support from Lawmakers
Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) praised the community’s advocacy progress over the past decade and commended CoHNA for amplifying the community’s voice on Capitol Hill through events. He urged everyone to take pride in their identity and congratulated the attendees for attending the event in DC that celebrated their heritage and roots.
Congressman Max Miller (R-OH), talked about the significance of freedom while expressing empathy with the issues the Hindu community has been facing. “If anything were to happen to your community, I’ll be there standing shoulder to shoulder with you,” Miller noted.
Stressing that he will not tolerate Hinduphobia and other forms of hate, Congressman Shri Thanedar (D-MI) said, “We are here, and we are fighting” while acknowledging “the voice you all have, the voice the Hindu community has in Congress.”
Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA) commended the ongoing and increasing involvement of the Hindu-American and Indian-American community in policy making, highlighting the community’s reach in shaping America’s future. He urged the community “to continue pursuing the American dream which celebrates innovation, hard work, success, and its traditions.”
Congressman Glen Grothman (R-WI) congratulated CoHNA for its advocacy within the community. Other lawmakers highlighted the urgent need to address immigration, including the Green Card backlog, which significantly affects Hindu American immigrants.
Students share their experiences
The event’s highlight was the diverse array of student voices. Attendees were moved by personal testimonies from a powerful panel of Hindu’s from Stanford, UC Berkeley, and the University of Georgia. They shared the challenges they encounter on campus, in academic settings, and even in their dorm rooms. Their voices and stories vividly illustrated the “prevalent Hinduphobia on campus,” and its impact on their lives and ultimately their choices.
Rutvij Holay discussed facing ridicule due to having a modest Hindu worship area in his dorm room, Aryan Sawant described feeling isolated as an openly proud Hindu on campus and dealing with peer disapproval. Anvita Yerramsetty recalled how her high school years, marked by increasing awareness of anti-Hindu sentiments, reinforced her pride in her heritage and influenced her college application decisions and research.
Several community leaders and representatives from various organizations such as HinduACTion, Howard County Jewish Advocacy Group, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Association of United Hindu and Jain Temples, Americans for Hindus, and Indian Cultural Association of Howard County also were present during the event.
