Following acts of hate crimes aimed at Hindus, and vandalism against temples, Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party, recently held a briefing with Indian American Congressional members and senior officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to discuss DOJ’s strategy to address these specific issues.
This meeting chased a letter, spearheaded by Congressman Krishnamoorthi earlier this year, addressing incidents of vandalism against temples spanning from California to New Jersey, and highlighting the broader threats faced by the Hindu community in the United States, including threats on social media, according to a statement from Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s office.
“Last week’s meeting was an important starting point for addressing the threats posed by Hinduphobia as the rate of hate crimes across the nation grows, and as American Hindus and their places of worship face harassment, vandalism, and even graver dangers,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi.
He further added, “While the Department of Justice has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its outreach to the Hindu American community, significant challenges remain as we continue to work to protect Hindus, and every other American community, from hate crimes.”
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On March 29, 2024, the letter from Congressman Krishnamoorthi to Kristen Clarke, Civil Rights Division, US Department of Justice, also signed by other lawmakers Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, Ami Bera, and Shri Thanedar noted, “the undersigned Members of Congress of South Asian descent” request a briefing from DOJ regarding the current status of investigations into these crimes.
The letter expressed that their stated aim was to gain a clearer understanding of the existing coordination between local law enforcement agencies, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Civil Rights Division.
“Attacks at mandirs from New York to California have contributed to increased collective anxiety among Hindu Americans. Leaders from these impacted communities have expressed there are unfortunately ‘no leads’ on suspects, leaving many to continue to live in fear and intimidation,” the letter from Indian-American lawmakers added. “Our communities remain concerned about law enforcement coordination regarding these bias-motivated crimes, and they are left wondering if there is appropriate federal oversight to ensure equal protection under the law.”
