By article by CoHNA
Friday, March 31. Atlanta, GA. History was made in Georgia as well as in the United States, when a first ever County Resolution condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu hate was passed in the Georgia legislature this week. The Resolution was directed by Rep. Lauren McDonald and Rep. Todd Jones from Forsyth County in the suburbs of Atlanta and home to one of the largest Hindu and Indian American diaspora communities in Georgia. The county delegation drew attention to the rising Hinduphobia across the nation and called for an end to such hatred.
Last year, Rutgers University released a groundbreaking report that highlighted the growing bigotry against the Hindu community via social media networks and warned that such online hate can lead to real life violence. This report came out less than two months before a spate of anti-Hindu attacks in New York and California in August 2022.
The Atlanta chapter of the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) spearheaded the efforts to get this Resolution passed despite an extremely busy legislative season. This came on the back of the first ever Hindu Advocacy Day held by CoHNA on March 22nd at the Georgia State Capitol, where around 25 lawmakers – both Republicans and Democrats – joined the Hindu community to understand its concerns, pledge to create ways to protect the community against discrimination and facilitate the inclusion of Hindu voices in important decision-making processes in the state.
Besides CoHNA, local leaders from BAPS, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Umiya Mata Mandir, Shree Shakti Mandir, Sewa International, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), and others participated in the Advocacy Day.
Earlier in the month, Senator Shawn Still who had introduced a resolution underscoring the strong relations between Georgia and India, shared how excited he was to see the growing and vibrant Hindu community and the warm welcome he has felt ever since he was first elected.
The resolution was initiated by Representatives of Forsyth County as part of Hindu Advocacy day!
Read the rest @ https://cohna.org/georgia-state-legislature-passes-the-first-ever-county-resolution-condemning-hinduphobia-and-anti-hindu-hate/
