Georgia has become the first state in the US to pass a County Resolution condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry. The resolution recognized the contributions of Indian Americans and Hindu Americans in Georgia and called out the rising Hinduphobia around the country.
Hinduism is one of the world’s largest and oldest religions with over 1.2 billion adherents in over 100 countries, encompassing an array of diverse traditions and belief systems with values of acceptance, mutual respect, and peace. The United States has always been a beacon of hope, progress, and innovation, attracting people from around the world to create and live a better and fulfilling life, and has welcomed more than four million Hindus from all corners of the world and given them better opportunities and the freedom to practice Hinduism, also known as Sanatana Dharma.
The American Hindu community has been a major contributor to diverse sectors such as medicine, science and engineering, information technology, hospitality, finance, and more. Hindu contributions of Yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, food, music, arts, and more have enriched the cultural fabric and have been widely adopted in American society and led to the lives of millions.
Hinduphobia, as described by the Understanding Hinduphobia Initiative, is “a set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviors towards Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) and Hindus that may manifest as prejudice, fear, or hatred”. There have been documented instances of hate crimes against Hindu Americans over the last few decades in many parts of the country.
In July 2022, a report released by Rutgers University titled “Anti-Hindu Disinformation: A Case Study of Hinduphobia on Social Media” detailed how hate messages in social media translate into real-life threats for people of the Hindu faith. Hinduphobia is exacerbated and institutionalized by some in academia who support the dismantling of Hinduism and accuse its sacred texts and cultural practices of violence and oppression.
The resolution passed by the Georgia legislature condemns Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu bigotry, and intolerance and declares Forsyth County as a place that welcomes the diversity brought by Hindu Americans and all those who work within their laws, uphold family values, and contribute to their economic and social well-being. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press.
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