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CoHNA's 2024 impact: Strengthening Hindu advocacy and rights
This year, CoHNA volunteers were involved in the celebration of Hindu heritage and the promotion of community engagement, as well as the resolution of human rights concerns for Hindus in countries, communities, and educational institutions.
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It was another landmark year of Hindu advocacy for CoHNA (the Coalition of Hindus of North America). We led significant initiatives across US and Canada – from stopping flawed bills like California’s AB3027 and opposing Canada’s M128, to supporting good ones like H. Res 1131. From addressing human rights concerns for Hindus in countries, communities and educational institutions to celebrating Hindu heritage and fostering community engagement CoHNA volunteers drive significant traction and change.
Human Rights for Bangladeshi Hindus
Since August, CoHNA has been spearheading a campaign to draw attention to human rights violations against Bangladeshi Hindus. Thousands have used CoHNA's platform to contact representatives in the US and Canada. We helped plan rallies and vigils in over 30 cities, conducted numerous meetings with lawmakers, and consistently amplified the voices of Bangladeshi Hindus.
Canadian Hindu Community Pushback
In response to unprecedented attacks on Hindus in Canada on Nov 3, CoHNA played a crucial role in organizing community resistance. A massive protest on November 4th, co-organized by CoHNA, saw thousands gather to oppose the brazen Khalistani attacks on temples in Brampton and Surrey during Diwali weekend. It marked the largest protest gathering of Hindus in Canadian history. Over the past few months, we have collected data and driven education on ongoing violence and two tier policing faced by the community, led outreach to lawmakers and more. This pushback has come at significant personal risk to CoHNA’s leadership team who are now in te cross hairs of extremists like Gurupatwant Singh Pannun.
Channeling and strengthening the Hindu Voice
We stood against the misrepresentation of our traditions such as the attempts to stop Hindus from celebrating the inauguration of the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and the targeting of our sacred festivals via campaigns like “Holi against Hindutva”. CoHNA continued to tackle the fake caste narrative, pushing back against biased surveys and helping educate on the real harm being inflicted on everyday Hindus.
We drove legislative awareness from Hinduism through consistent outreach. And also hosted our 3rd Annual Day of Hindu Advocacy in Washington DC, that saw 100 Hindus from 15 states attend.
And all through this across the two countries we continued to educate and train youth and their family on Hindu heritage, traditions and inspirational figures.
And living up to our stated goal of grassroots action, our teams and chapters secured success on a number of different advocacy issues
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Our newly established Cleveland chapter, helped secure Hindu Heritage Month proclamations from 16 towns in Ohio, demonstrating the effectiveness of organized grassroots advocacy.
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Multiple youth led community celebrations of Diwali in libraries, Hospitals and schools in Atlanta
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In New York City, CoHNA worked with the Mayor's Office to remove misleading information about the sacred Swastika symbol from a city webpage, correcting a decade-old misrepresentation.
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Held a Hindu Advocacy Day in New Jersey legislature. Working with the NJ Democratic Hindu Caucus, CoHNA successfully established October as permanent Hindu Heritage Month, signed into law on Diwali.
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Supported community and youth leaders and ran local campaign to secure Diwali as a school Holiday in Broward County Florida
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Helped secure recognition for Diwali and Hindu Heritage Month in multiple states of US and Canada
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The Atlanta chapter hosted events honoring Black History Month with the Georgia Black Caucus and later a grand Diwali celebration attended by over 250 people, including three Congressional members, Atlanta's Mayor, and prominent figures from Hindu and African American communities.
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Community educations sessions with police and community members in NY, Atlanta, Toronto and more
The goal to build bridges with communities and promote cultural understanding across diverse groups.
The author is a board member of the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA).
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad.
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