Foundation cites temple vandalism, targeted attacks and online hate while seeking stronger protections for Hindu Americans
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has urged California’s Commission on the State of Hate to formally recognise and address what it describes as a rising pattern of anti-Hindu discrimination, vandalism and violence targeting Hindu Americans across the state.
In comments submitted to the California Civil Rights Department and the Commission on June 9, the organisation called for stronger reporting mechanisms, greater transparency in hate-crime data, enhanced security support for religious institutions and official recognition of anti-Hindu bias as a growing civil rights concern.
“Hindu Americans are an integral, vibrant part of the California tapestry,” said Samir Kalra, HAF’s Managing Director of Policy and Programs. He urged the Commission to prioritise the safety, inclusion and protection of the Hindu American community.
Concerns over attacks on temples and individuals
HAF cited data from California’s CA vs Hate reporting system, which found that anti-Hindu incidents accounted for 23 per cent of reported religious-bias cases, making them the second most frequently reported category of religious hate in the state.
The organisation highlighted multiple incidents involving vandalism at Hindu temples, including attacks on the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills and another BAPS temple in the Sacramento area. Cases of anti-Hindu graffiti were also reported at temples in Newark and Hayward.
The foundation argued that these incidents point to a broader pattern of intimidation targeting Hindu places of worship.
HAF also cited attacks on individuals, including cases in Santa Clara County where elderly Hindu women were allegedly targeted and robbed, and an incident in Fremont where a Hindu man was reportedly assaulted while being subjected to anti-Hindu slurs.
Rise in online hate
The submission also raised concerns over the growth of anti-Hindu and anti-Indian rhetoric on social media platforms.
HAF referenced research suggesting that online disinformation campaigns and xenophobic narratives have contributed to a rise in anti-Hindu content, warning that digital hate can often translate into real-world harassment, vandalism and violence.
Recommendations to authorities
The organisation called on California authorities to:
- Expand multilingual outreach to improve hate-incident reporting
- Improve collection and publication of anti-Hindu hate-crime data
- Increase security grants for temples and community centres
- Publicly condemn anti-Hindu discrimination
- Strengthen policy measures to combat religiously motivated hate
California is home to one of the largest Hindu populations in the United States. HAF said protecting the community’s religious freedom and security is essential to the state’s broader efforts to uphold civil rights and combat hate.
The Commission has not yet publicly responded to the recommendations.
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