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Hindu bodies welcome DOJ's new outreach program
The initiative is intended to foster collaboration and understanding by educating public and private organizations, schools, religious and secular communities, and law enforcement to engage with Hindu Americans and communities in a more positive and supportive manner.
U.S. Department of Justice / Image- DOJ
Hindu organizations in the United States have welcomed the launch of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service’s (CRS) “Engaging and Building Relationships with Hindu American Communities” program.
The initiative is intended to foster collaboration and understanding by educating public and private organizations, schools, religious and secular communities, and law enforcement to engage with Hindu Americans and communities in a more positive and supportive manner.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) played a key role in shaping the program. Suhag A. Shukla, executive director of HAF, highlighted the organization’s contributions to the initiative. “We welcome this effort and are grateful for the opportunity to work closely with the Department of Justice. Our educational resources were integral to developing the training materials, which aim to build relationships between local institutions and law enforcement while ensuring community safety,” she said.
Press Release️In a major step for Hindu Americans, the DOJ launches the ‘Engaging and Building Relationships with Hindu American Communities’ program! HAF is grateful to have significantly contributed to development of training materials.https://t.co/FCMERnCY1d
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) January 24, 2025
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) also praised the initiative, calling it a “historic moment” for Hindu Americans. “For far too long, Hindus in the U.S. have been excluded from institutional frameworks addressing discrimination. This program fills a critical gap,” CoHNA stated. The organization emphasized the importance of combating anti-Hindu hate, referencing FBI data and reports of rising attacks on Hindu temples nationwide.
EXCITING UPDATE: We are pleased to see the @DOJ_CRS launch the “Training Program to Build Relationships with Hindu American Communities.” A historic moment for our community to finally be part of the work undertaken by the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service – a… pic.twitter.com/pACLJNS9bK
— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) January 24, 2025
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who led a letter of inquiry last year on hate crimes against Hindu places of worship, has also been credited for advocating for stronger protections. While the DOJ has yet to publicly respond to those inquiries, the outreach program is seen as a positive step forward.
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