The Georgia Meeting has handed a decision condemning Hinduphobia, making it the primary American State to take such a legislative measure.
Condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry, the decision mentioned Hinduism is among the world’s largest and oldest religions with over 1.2 billion adherents in over 100 international locations and encompasses an array of various traditions and perception methods with values of acceptance, mutual respect and peace.
The decision was launched by Representatives Lauren McDonald and Todd Jones from Forsyth County within the suburbs of Atlanta, house to one of many largest Hindu and Indian-American diaspora communities in Georgia.
The decision noticed that the American-Hindu group has been a significant contributor to various sectors akin to drugs, science and engineering, data know-how, hospitality, finance, academia, manufacturing, vitality, retail commerce, amongst others
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It additionally famous that the group’s contributions of Yoga, ayurveda, meditation, meals, music, arts have enriched the cultural cloth and have been extensively adopted in American society and enhanced the lives of thousands and thousands.
Stating that there have been documented situations of hate crimes in opposition to Hindu-People over the previous few many years in lots of elements of the nation, the decision mentioned Hinduphobia is exacerbated and institutionalised by some in academia who assist the dismantling of Hinduism and accuse its sacred texts and cultural practices of violence and oppression.
A transfer on this regard was spearheaded by the Atlanta chapter of the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), which organised the first-ever Hindu Advocacy Day held on March 22 on the Georgia State Capitol. It was attended by round 25 lawmakers — each Republicans and Democrats — who joined the Hindu group to grasp its considerations, pledge to create methods to guard the group in opposition to discrimination and facilitate the inclusion of Hindu voices in vital decision-making processes within the state.
“It was a real honor to work with Rep McDonald and Rep Jones in addition to different lawmakers who guided us via the entire technique of getting this County Decision handed,” mentioned Rajeev Menon, CoHNA vp.
“We additionally heard that every one the lawmakers had been working actually lengthy hours given the quantity of legislative gadgets on the agenda, however nonetheless determined to affix us on the Advocacy Day to indicate how a lot they worth the Hindu group,” he mentioned.
CoHNA normal secretary Shobha Swamy mentioned, “The problems confronted by Hindu People in Georgia and the remainder of the nation through false, Hinduphobic narratives are negatively impacting a group that has been hardworking, law-abiding and enriching the material of America.”
“We urged for his or her assist in combating such bigotry which advances hatred and creates the concept that Hindus and other people of Indian-origin want particular legal guidelines and monitoring as a consequence of allegations round some inherent propensity to discriminate,” she mentioned.