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WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 15, 2006) –
The Hindu American Foundation expressed dismay and shock at
the hate attack on a Hindu family in Wayne, New Jersey on
June 1, 2006. The home of the family of five was defaced with
anti-Hindu and anti-Indian epithets spray-painted across their
driveway and house. Earlier in January, the family had been
targeted with hate mail as well as graffiti on their garage
door.
New Jersey was witness to racially and religiously
motivated attacks against Indian-Americans and Hindu-Americans
during the 1980’s. Young men, identifying themselves
as the “Dotbusters,” targeted Hindus because Hindu
women wore “dots” or “bindi” on their
forehead – a traditional mark that has both spiritual
symbolism and aesthetic appeal. The series of attacks ended
in the murder of Indian-American Navroze Mody.
New Jersey state records indicate that hate
crimes have risen by 32 percent from 2003 to 2004. Fourteen
of the victims were targeted because of their Indian-American
identity, while three were attacked because of their Hindu
faith.
"Hate crimes are reprehensible violations
that must not be tolerated in any community. I am confident
that the Wayne Police Department will actively work to bring
the vandal or vandals to justice and end these cowardly acts,”
said Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), an official representing
Wayne in the U.S. Congress, in support of HAF’s condemnation
of the attacks. “No matter who the victim, hate crimes
are committed with the intention to divide communities. I
join my friends in Wayne as we stand in unity with the family
that has been victimized."
“It’s vital that Hindu and Indian-Americans
join in support of this family,” said Ishani Chowdhury,
Executive Director of the Hindu American Foundation. “We
call upon law enforcement officials to provide safety for
the local Hindu American community, and to apprehend the perpetrators.”
The Hindu American Foundation is a non-profit
501(c)(3), non-partisan organization, promoting the Hindu
and American ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism.
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