According to a recent report from the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), there has been a significant increase in anti-Hindu religious bigotry and Hinduphobia in the United States. The results of the year-long California versus. Hate campaign, which aimed to increase hate crimes, were released. After anti-Jewish occurrences, anti-Hindu crimes came in second on the list, followed by anti-Muslim crimes.Anti-Jewish (36.9%), anti-Hindu (23.3%) and anti-Muslim (14.6%) were the most reported causes for reports connected to religious targeting, according to the campaigns data. The information included in the report came from the hate crime reporting system, California vs. Hate via Calls.Rising hateAccording to a recent report from the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), there has been a significant increase in anti-Hindu religious bigotry and Hinduphobia in the United States. The results of the year-long California versus. Hate campaign, which aimed to increase hate crimes, were released. After anti-Jewish occurrences, anti-Hindu crimes came in second on the list, followed by anti-Muslim crimes.According to data from the California vs. Hate reporting system, the most frequently reported causes for religious targeting were anti-Jewish (36.9%), anti-Hindu (23.3%), and anti-Muslim (14.6%). The study confirms the rising instances of anti-Hindu events and Hinduphobia, as noted by Samir Kalra, Managing Director of Policy and Programs at the Hindu American Foundation (HAF). Kalra highlighted an increase in reports of hate crimes and bias incidents from community members, especially during the latter half of 2023 and early 2024.Hinduphobia peaks!Recently, anti-Hindu graffiti with slogans such as Khalistan Zindabad and Murdabad has been found on the walls of several Hindu temples, including Vijays Sherawali Temple in Hayward, California, and the Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in Newark, California. In response to this rise in anti-Hindu sentiment, Representative Shri Thanedar, a Democrat from Michigan, introduced a new measure in the House of Representatives in April to denounce Hinduphobia.Thanedar expressed concern over the increasing attacks on Hinduism in the United States, along with the spread of misinformation. He emphasized his personal connection to Hinduism, stating, I have practiced Hinduism and was raised in a Hindu home. It is a very peaceful religion that does not engage in acts of aggression or violence towards others.
