(March 28 2021 – Toronto) Hindu Forum Canada is deeply saddened by the senseless and racially motivated killings of 8 people (6 of whom were Asian women) in the city of Atlanta. We condemn these heinous acts of barbarism in the strongest words. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims – May God give them strength to get through these difficult times.
It is highly unfortunate and disheartening to observe that even in the 21st century with all of our human progress, we still see a subset of humankind suffering from the deadly disease of racial and colour discrimination. The terrible acts of hate in Atlanta should serve as an eye opener with regards to racist tendencies which manifest in many forms involving multiple racial groups in North America.
We should also note that the United States is not alone in observing anti-Asian hate crimes. Canada has also been observing its fair share of anti-Asian hate crimes. In fact, brave members of the Asian community in Canada have come together to tabulate the recent perceived rise of xenophobic and racist crimes perpetrated against Asians coined as ‘Covid Racism’. One can visit their website which has been tracking alleged ‘Covid Racism’ crimes since March 17, 2020 (https://www.covidracism.ca/timeline). To date (March 28, 2021), 976 incidents have been reported. According to a CTV report, the top anti-Asian crime hot-spots include the following cities in descending order of reported crime magnitude: Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.
Our Asian community is not alone in bearing hate-motivated crimes. In the last few months, the Hindu South Asian community has been on the receiving end of crimes motivated by Hinduphobia. The incident types include and are not limited to: Hindu temples being vandalized; homes of Hindus being vandalized; doxing; physical abuse and intimidation; verbal assaults; mass boycotts of Hindu businesses and false business reviews on Google etc. These hurtful and senseless acts have occurred in cities like Brampton, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton to name a few. Suffice it to say that as a fellow victimized racial and religious group, we understand and deeply empathize with our Asian brethren and stand in solidarity with them.
Where there is hate, there is also justice and empathy on the flip side. Our community stands united as one and shall definitely defeat hate. The Covid Racism organization has been doing a very commendable job in its data gathering and positive activism to affect change and restore harmony in the community. Hindu Forum Canada would like to congratulate and lend its full support to Covid Racism where and when it is requested.
As we build on the positive momentum of Covid Racism’s work, Hindu Forum Canada would like to commend the swift responses by responsible politicians like Honorable Conservative M.P. Bob Saroya (Markham-Unionville) who has demonstrated great leadership in his constituency which has seen a spurt of anti-Asian incidences. Mr. Saroya and his local law enforcement and provincial/municipal counterparts have led by example by conducting thorough investigations, community outreach efforts and catching culprits in a timely manner.
We would like to reiterate that Hindu Forum Canada would be more than happy to work closely with and lend its support to any governmental/non-governmental organization which is working towards increasing inclusiveness, harmony and synergy between all segments of Canadian society.
On a closing note, we would like to leave you with a Sanskrit excerpt from the Upanishada-s (distillations of the revered Veda-s of the Hindus) which should serve as a call for global unity:
ayaṃ nijaḥ paro veti gaṇanā laghucetasām।
(This is mine, that is his, say the small minded)
udāracaritānāṃ tu vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam॥
(The wise believe that the entire world is a family)