Hindu American Organizations Targeted in a Coordinated Campaign of Disinformation and Hate For Celebrating Their Faith and Background

September 6, 2024: Virtual: Hindu American organizations are facing an orchestrated campaign of misinformation and hate, spearheaded by extremists, some of whom glorify terrorists and openly advocate violence against Hindus. This week, the attacks were amplified by violent transnational groups like Sikhs for Justice who have been escalating their threats. The latest attack took the form of spreading baseless rumors and accusing “Indo American Hindus” of being disloyal to the United States. Two prominent Hindu organizations (CoHNA and the Hindu American Foundation) were specifically named in a troubling escalation of hate.

American Hindus continue to face unjust accusations and discriminatory treatment for celebrating their culture and exercising their constitutional rights. “This echoes the insidious trope of dual loyalty that has historically been used to scapegoat and marginalize minorities in the U.S. We must challenge this narrative in the 21st century and protect the rights of all Americans,” said Nikunj Trivedi, President of CoHNA.

This new attack follows a recent incident where another group, comprised of various Islamist organizations and Hindus for Human Rights, called for an investigation into Indian American groups for featuring a float depicting a sacred Hindu temple (Ram Mandir) at the NYC India Day Parade, falsely labeling it as an “anti-Muslim” symbol. “The provocative stance of groups that seek to insert themselves into and dictate to Hindus about how and what they can celebrate, is particularly disturbing,” Trivedi added.

Hindus Under Attack for Celebrating Culture and Exercising Rights

The ongoing targeting of the two Hindu advocacy organizations appears to be a coordinated effort. Institutions such as the Bridge Initiative at Georgetown, Professor Audrey Truschke at Rutgers, Hindus for Human Rights, and SFJ are all participating in a concerted campaign and are using the same playbook against the largest Hindu advocacy groups. Fringe figures known for anti-Hindu rhetoric, such as Peter Friedrich, whose bigotry has been called out by no less a personage than Rev. Jesse Jackson, have also joined this effort. 

The involvement of Khalistani extremists in hate crimes against American Hindus is well-documented, including acts of vandalism against Hindu temples, attacks on Gandhi statues, and targeting of individual Hindus in everyday settings. This is not just “politics.” This is the alarming reality of growing Hinduphobia, fueled by institutional support from certain academics and media platforms. 

Over the past few years, a slew of academic research from places like NCRI and the Miller Center at Rutgers University, FBI data and statistics from California’s Hate Hotline have reported alarming levels of hate and crimes against Hindus. 

CoHNA Stands Firm in Advocacy 

Earlier this year, the state of California proposed bill AB3027 under the guise of combating “transnational repression”—language echoed by the very groups targeting Hindu Americans. CoHNA opposed this bill, cautioning that it could provide institutional cover for the harassment of Hindus standing up for their rights.

Despite these challenges, our commitment to educating policymakers, allies, and the broader community about Hinduphobia remains steadfast. We will continue to grow our support within the American Hindu community and stand united in defending the rights and religious freedoms of Hindus.

Resolutions like HRes. 1131 are crucial in this fight, and we urge continued support for measures that protect all Americans from discrimination and hate.

For the record, CoHNA has no links to any other organizations, domestic or abroad. We are an independent grassroots advocacy group with a diverse Board of American Hindus advocating for Hindus in US and Canada, and a focus on Hindu Human Rights.

For more information and to view the latest report on Hinduphobia, visit https://cohna.org/new-report-from-california-civil-rights-highlights-growing-hinduphobia-in-the-state/.

About CoHNA

CoHNA is a grassroots level advocacy and civil rights organization dedicated to improving the understanding of Hinduism in North America by working on matters related to the Hindu community and by educating the public about Hindu heritage and tradition. For more information, please visit https://cohna.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and on Instagram.