Over 300 Hindus and Indian Americans of Bangladeshi descent came together at Sugar Land City Hall in Houston on Sunday morning in a forceful but nonviolent show of support against the horrifying crimes carried out by Islamist extremists against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. As attendees banded together for a cause that profoundly connected with their identities and values, the atmosphere was charged with passion.
On Sunday morning, more than 300 Hindus and Indian Americans of Bangladeshi descent assembled at Sugar Land City Hall in Houston in a forceful yet nonviolent show of support against the atrocious crimes carried out by Islamist extremists against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. As attendees banded together for a cause that profoundly connected with their identities and values, the atmosphere was charged with passion.
The organizers vehemently demanded that all religious minorities in Bangladesh be given immediate protection and safety, and they urged the US government to refuse to stand by and watch these horrible crimes against humanity take place.
They urged Hindus in Bangladesh to remain watchful, band together to monitor the current situation, and take required action as a group in the event of an emergency.
Entitled “Save Hindus in Bangladesh,” the vigil was arranged by the Global Voice for Bangladesh Minorities, a broad coalition that represents several prominent Hindu organizations in Houston, including Maitri, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, HinduAction, HinduPact, the Houston Durgabari Society, ISKCON, the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora, and numerous others.
They urged Hindus in Bangladesh to remain watchful, band together to monitor the current situation, and take required action as a group in the event of an emergency.
Entitled “Save Hindus in Bangladesh,” the vigil was arranged by the Global Voice for Bangladesh Minorities, a broad coalition that represents several prominent Hindu organizations in Houston, including Maitri, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, HinduAction, HinduPact, the Houston Durgabari Society, ISKCON, the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora, and numerous others.
With impassioned statements calling for a stop to the violence and horrors committed against Hindus in Bangladesh, participants held their placards high.
Slogans such “Stop Hindu Genocide,” “Stand Up and Speak Out Now,” “Hindu Lives Matter,” and “We0 Won’t Run, We Won’t Hide, Stop Hindu Genocide” echoed the crowd’s declamatory appeal for justice, and the gathering burst into fervor.
With a passionate declaration, the organizers cited the timeless words of Mahatma Gandhi, “To forgive and accept injustice is cowardice,” as well as the moving words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
One of the speakers, Achlesh Amar, speaking on behalf of VHP and HinduAction, firmly declared to the crowded assembly, “We strongly condemn the assault on the Hindu community for their pluralistic beliefs.” We are steadfastly united in our support of our Bangladeshi brothers and sisters. We expect the Bangladeshi government to act immediately to apprehend those responsible and guarantee the safety and security of all of its people, irrespective of their religious convictions!”
Amar also shared a moving statement from HinduPACT co-convener Deepti Mahajan.
“With the coup in Bangladesh, the 10 million Hindus are sitting on a ticking bomb of genocide,” she stated urgently, her voice shaking. “Reports from Bangladesh document horrifying tales of women experiencing awful abuse, as well as unspeakable acts of torture, murder, and temple burnings dedicated to Hinduism. The fundamental tenets of democracy in nations like the US and India are seriously jeopardized by this instability, in addition to Hindus. Hindus in Pakistan are inevitably at risk from it as well. We demand that all minorities in Bangladesh be secure, and we need the Western countries to be paying attention to this Asian catastrophe.”
At the vigil, an American woman of Bangladeshi descent spoke with such intensity that her voice broke, saying, “The horrific acts of violence back home are devastating.” It breaks our hearts to hear of these heinous actions every day when we get on the phone with our family. There have been countless innocent lives lost! Religious buildings have been set on fire or defaced, and women have suffered horrendous mistreatment. This needs to end right away! We can’t watch helplessly as our countrymen endure hardship!”
