Georgia passes resolution condemning Hinduphobia officially

Representatives from Forsyth County in Georgia, where a significant Hindu and Indian-American diaspora community resides, recently introduced a resolution that denounces Hinduphobia. Representatives Lauren McDonald and Todd Jones introduced a resolution in Georgia that condemns bigotry against the Hindu faith, making it the first time a US state has taken such action. The resolution also acknowledges Hinduism's status as one of the world's oldest and largest religions, with over 1.2 billion followers worldwide.

Additionally, it recognizes the various traditions and belief systems within Hinduism that promote values of acceptance, mutual respect, and peace. The resolution recognizes the significant contributions made by the American-Hindu community in various sectors, such as medicine, science, engineering, information technology, hospitality, finance, academia, manufacturing, energy, and retail trade. In addition, the resolution recognizes that the Hindu community has made significant contributions to American society through practices such as Yoga, ayurveda, meditation, food, music, and arts, which have enriched the cultural landscape.

However, the resolution also acknowledges that the Hindu-American community has experienced hate crimes in various parts of the country in recent decades. The resolution further notes that some in academia exacerbate and institutionalize Hinduphobia by advocating for the dismantling of Hinduism and accusing its sacred texts and cultural practices of promoting violence and oppression.

The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) led the effort in organizing the first-ever Hindu Advocacy Day on March 22 at the Georgia State Capitol, which was attended by around 25 lawmakers from both Republicans and Democrats. CoHNA vice president Rajeev Menon expressed his gratitude for the lawmakers' support, while CoHNA general secretary Shobha Swamy urged lawmakers to combat false, Hinduphobic narratives that negatively impact the Hindu American community and create the idea that they require special laws and monitoring due to allegations of inherent discrimination.