Petition to Alexandra Soriano-Taveras

Denounce Hinduphobia at Teaneck Democratic Municipal Committee (TDMC)


Denounce Hinduphobia at Teaneck Democratic Municipal Committee (TDMC)
US
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Almost sixty Hindu American organizations representing more than 155,000 residents of Bergen County, NJ and surrounding areas signed a coalition letter condemning a hateful resolution recently passed by the Teaneck Democratic Municipal Committee (TDMC). The resolution recklessly and falsely labels almost every major Hindu American organization in the United States, including Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Sewa International, and others, as a fascist organization which promotes hate and terrorism without providing any of those organizations the opportunity to be heard. The resolution has outraged Hindu Americans who see this as a vicious, false, and provocative act by Democratic Party activists in Teaneck to demonize the entire Hindu community, their activities, their beliefs, and their political participation in New Jersey. The Hindu American community, considered by many to be a model minority community, has recently experienced numerous instances of hate crimes, including against many Hindu temples in the New Jersey area.

“Just like the ‘Dot-Busters’ gangs in New Jersey in the late 80s that violently targeted Hindu Americans because of their religious beliefs or skin color, the TDMC chose to also make baseless assumptions and operate from a position of ignorance and hate,” said S. Rawal, a New Jersey resident. Rawal was 7-years-old when the “Dot Busters” announced their campaign in 1987 to eradicate Hindus from New Jersey. “Back then, it was ‘dirty’ Hindu, today it is ‘fascist’ Hindu,” he said.

Civic leaders and officials from the surrounding areas also expressed their support for the Hindu American community while condemning this Hindu hate campaign initiated by the TDMC. New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal, in a strongly worded statement of support for the Hindu American community condemned the resolution and called for its immediate rescission. In his statement, he said, “It is unfortunate that this committee that purports to support the ideals of the Democratic Party would act in a manner that illustrates the type of bigotry and hatred that we are working hard as a country to eradicate from our society.” Teaneck City Council Members Keith Kaplan and Michael Santiago Pagan also issued a strong statement in response to the resolution in which they said, “Unfortunately, the TDMC resolution at issue, was felt by some to condemn all Hindus, which encompasses many peaceful members of our larger community here in Bergen County and beyond.” They added, “Just as we did on the day we were sworn in, we proclaim: Hate has no home in Teaneck.”

In the recent Teaneck City Council meeting, Hindu American community members called for an investigation into the individuals and organizations that may have incited the TDMC to pass this defamatory and hateful resolution. The coalition letter stated, “We understand that the TDMC may simply be a pawn in a much larger agenda to malign and denigrate the Hindu American community, but we wish to impress upon the TDMC that there are real consequences when one makes misplaced, false, and malicious allegations about a law-abiding and peaceful community.”

Interestingly, Alexandra Soriano-Taveras, the TDMC Chairman who signed off on the hateful resolution, is no stranger to stirring up ethnic and religious animosity. Last year, while campaigning for the open State Assembly seat in the 37th district, she was seen suggesting a boycott of Jewish businesses in Teaneck.

 The TDMC resolution should be considered in the context of the extensive community service rendered by the Hindu American community through various organizations; service that has been recognized by government officials at every level. In a recent Congressional Statement, US Congressman Gerald Connolly stated, “Without regard for race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality, Sewa International USA has done tremendous work to ameliorate the effects of some of the world’s greatest disasters.” Hindu American organizations, some of which were demonized by the TDMC resolution, collectively donated over 30 million pounds of food and over $50 million dollars worth of food, supplies, and other essential services during the pandemic to help the elderly or lower-income communities hit hard by the COVID lockdowns. “Our volunteers strive to serve humanity considering that as serving divinity. It is surprising that the TDMC is trying to demonize those that do good in the world with this bigoted and evil resolution that simply promotes Hindu hate. We hope that during this festival season that sanity prevails, and they rescind this awful resolution,” said Rashmita Shanbhag, North Jersey Chapter Coordinator for Sewa International USA.

The letter urged the TDMC to do the right thing by immediately rescinding their hate-filled resolution and apologizing for hurting the sentiments of the Hindu American community and for endangering the security, well-being, and safety of Hindus in New Jersey.

Supporting Organization

American Hindus against Defamation NJ

American Indian Association

Arya Samaj of Garden State, Om temple

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir North Bergen, NJ 

Chappaiya Dham

Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) NJ 

Divyajyot foundation NJ

Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA

Fair Lawn Indian Community

Federations of Indian Associations NY, NJ, CT, MA 

Gandhi Center

Gayatri Mandir

Glen Rock Indian Community

Govinda Sanskar Center

Gurukul Swaminarayan

Hanuman Temple

Hindu America PAC of NY

Hindu Community Center

Hindus for America, NJ

Hindu American Society of Central NJ 

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, New Jersey HinduPACT NJ

Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference , NJ

India Cultural Center

India Heritage Center NJ

Indian American Association in Clifton

Indo American Senior Citizen Associations of Bergen county 

Isha Vedic Foundation

ISKCON NJ

Jersey City Asian Merchant Association

Kerala Hindus of New Jersey

Mallakhamb Federation of USA, NJ

Marlboro Indian Foundation

Monroe Indians for Civic Action

New Jersey Arya Samaj mandir Inc.

Param Shakti Peeth of America(PSPA)

PARMANAND MISSION

Ridgewood Indian Community (RIC)

Samskrita Bharati NJ

Sanatan Mandir

SAYFNA

Saraswati Cultural Association

Sewa International NJ

Shree Siddhivinayak Temple of USA

Shree Umiya Dham, Edison, NJ

The American Indian Public Affairs Committee

Subodh Yoga

United Rudra Foundation

Vadtaldham Swaminarayan Temple NJ

Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America NJ

Vihangam Yoga

Vraj Dham

World NRI Association NJ

World Peace and Health Foundation, USA

World Spiritual Awareness forum inc

Yogalife usa inc

Yogi Divine Society of NJ

369 Supporters

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Letter to
Chairperson, Alexandra Soriano-Taveras

We, the undersigned, condemn the recent resolution dated September 12, 2022 that was recklessly passed by the Teaneck Democratic Municipal Committee (TDMC) of Teaneck, NJ. This resolution wrongly condemns almost every major Hindu American organization in the United States as an organization which promotes hate and terrorism, and it was passed without even providing any of the mentioned Hindu American organizations the opportunity to be heard. As a minority community in the United States that has recently experienced many instances of hate crimes, including against many of our temples in the New Jersey area, we take great offense to this hate-filled resolution. We call for the TDMC to rescind this offensive resolution immediately.

We, the undersigned, believe that the defamatory allegations made in this resolution demonize the entire Hindu American community and Hindu American organizations, and promote further hatred and violence against a minority community in the United States. The resolution falsely labels Hindu American organizations as “Hindu nationalist organizations”. This resolution attempts to deny Hindu Americans their right to peacefully protest the hate-filled agenda of the “Dismantling Global Hindutva” conference, in which various speakers openly called for an end to Hinduism, claimed that Hinduism is a danger to democracy, equality, and brotherhood, and singled out Hindu last names (including the last names of many New Jersey residents), labeling them as purveyors of violence and bigotry. This resolution further attempts to strip Hindu Americans of their right to participate in the established political process of this country, including objecting to bills that the community believes are ill-advised, fallacious, or malicious in nature. These are rights afforded to all Americans, including Hindu Americans. This resolution reflects poorly against the long-cherished values of American society, including the importance of liberty, equality, justice, and diversity.

Finally, we, the undersigned, are appalled at the demonization of organizations that have diligently served the elderly, the lower-income families, and the most vulnerable sections of the population without regard to race, religion, nationality, or gender throughout the COVID pandemic in cities across the United States and the world. These Hindu American organizations collectively donated over 30 million pounds of food and over $50 million dollars worth of goods and services during the pandemic to help the elderly or individuals in lower-income communities hit hard by the COVID lockdowns. They served those in need across the United States as well as many other countries around the world, including India, Pakistan, South Africa, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and others without discrimination. Over 5,000 volunteers from these organizations collectively served almost one million individuals of all races, ethnicities, religions, and nationalities in big cities and small towns across the United States through weekly food and medical drives distributing food, grocery, hot meals, hygiene kits, and many other essential supplies. At the start of the COVID pandemic, these organizations distributed almost one million N95, KN95, and surgical masks to essential workers in hospitals, schools, and offices in cities across the country. Volunteers from these organizations made more than 100,000 masks by hand for distribution to those who were not able to acquire them elsewhere.

 In a time where there is an increased awareness of the need for diversity, inclusion, and mutual respect, it is ever more important to call out false narratives, bigotry, and hatred as we see it. We have witnessed many instances of violence against Hindus, Hindu temples, and Hindu icons. Here are further details on the growing hate against Hindus in America:

Anti-Hindu attacks grow, from Taco Bell tirade to Gandhi statue toppling - The Washington Post Rutgers Report Finds Increase in Anti-Hindu Disinformation | Rutgers University

We understand that the TDMC may simply be a pawn in a much larger agenda to malign and denigrate the Hindu American community, but we wish to impress upon the TDMC that there are real consequences when one makes misplaced, false, and malicious allegations about a law-abiding and peaceful community. We hope, therefore, that the TDMC will do the right thing by immediately rescinding this hate-filled resolution and apologizing for hurting the sentiments of the Hindu American community.

The list of organizations supporting this condemnation is growing. As of September 26, 2022, the following have expressed their outrage at the aforementioned resolution and joined together to fight this clear act of Hindu Hate

Updates

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2 years ago

155 Comments

Anonymous
Anonymous

Hindus Lives Matter

Dharemesh Shah
Dharemesh Shah

Wrong classification of community building clean organizations

Anonymous
Anonymous

We need to stop Hinduphobia

Jai Bansal
Jai Bansal

TDMC’s idiotic resolution is an invitation to violence against the Hindu American community

Jayesh Chaudhari
Jayesh Chaudhari

Hindu is a peaceful community, our all time mantra is to spread love and live in harmony. We don’t believe in violence or any non-social activities.

Anonymous
Anonymous

This a totally baseless allegations and DNC should be ashamed to make such statements -Indian Community – Hindu community is the most peaceful community and one of the most educated group.

Ashok Puri
Ashok Puri

I am concerned.

Mohit Khanna
Mohit Khanna

Hinduism is the most inclusive belief system which considers the whole world one family

Manan Raval
Manan Raval

I stand with my religion. I believe that Shlok is playing at wring scene in the movie . Please remove it .

Dharemesh Shah
Dharemesh Shah

Hurts religious sentiments

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369 Supporters
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