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CoHNA stands in solidarity with the family of George Floyd and the African American community, condemns the act of the Minnesota police officers which resulted in the death of Mr. Floyd, and calls for strict accountability and changes to the law enforcement system. Such racial discrimination, bigotry, and hatred impacts all minorities – including Hindu Americans – who have also been affected by police overreach.

Prejudice and hatred have no place in any society, including in the United States. The Pledge of Allegiance, which many Americans recite daily, emphasizes “liberty and justice for all.” The Declaration of Independence states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” Similarly, the Hindu tradition calls upon us to be compassionate, just, and fair towards all our fellow beings – no matter what color, race, ethnicity, class, religion, etc.

This spirit of equality is also echoed in a verse from the Rigveda, one of the most venerated texts from the Hindu tradition, which declares: “In mankind, nobody is superior or inferior. All strive together like brothers for glory and prowess. As we reflect upon this incident and express our sorrow in various ways, we also need to contemplate on the deeper issues that help harbor such hate mongering, and work collectively to overcome this evil.

Thus, CoHNA condemns such acts, calls for equality and compassion for all beings and stands firmly to uphold these noble principles for a better today and tomorrow.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti (Om, peace, peace, peace).

#BlackLivesMatter
#HindusAgainstRacism

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