INJUSTICE
RELIGIOUS INJUSTICE
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Hindu Priest Attacked Near Temple In US by a Racist Christian Man.
HIGHLIGHTS
The incident happened near Shiv Shakti Peeth in Glen Oaks in New York
Police arrested 52-year-old Sergio Gouveia in connection with the attack
Eyewitnesses said the attacker screamed things like, “this is my neighborhood,” during the assault
Sumedha Singh | HENB | New York | July 21, 2019:: Hindu priest was attacked by a 52-year-old man while he was walking down the street in his religious garb near a temple in Floral Park, New York, according to a US media report.
Swami Harish Chander Puri said that around 11 am (local time) on Thursday, near the Shiv Shakti Peeth in Glen Oaks, while he was walking down the street in his religious garb, a man came up from behind and started hitting him, repeatedly, PIX 11 news channel reported.
Puri said he was beaten so badly, he had to be rushed to the hospital.
The priest suffered bruises and abrasions all over his body, including his face during the attack on July 18, the channel reported.
A Facebook group called ‘Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus’ too posted about the incident.
“I’m in a little pain,” the priest was quoted as saying by the channel.
Police arrested 52-year-old Sergio Gouveia in connection with the attack. He’s being charged with assault, harassment and criminal possession of a weapon. The police are looking into whether the attack should be investigated as a hate crime, the channel said.
New York Police Department confirmed Sergio Gouveia, 52, was arrested and charged with felony assault and harassment in the second degree in the Thursday attack on a 62-year-old man. Police would not provide any details about the victim.
An NYPD spokesperson said the victim was taken to a hospital after being punched and hit with an object believed to be an umbrella. The victim suffered cuts to his head, nose, chest, arms and legs, the spokesperson said.
Investigators do not believe there is a hate crime component connected at this point, the second NYPD spokesperson said. The arrest paperwork states the dispute stemmed over the victim walking in the suspect’s neighborhood, another police department spokesperson said.
Some of the people who regularly attend the temple said they believe the priest was targeted. The attacker screamed things like, “this is my neighborhood,” during the incident, they said.
The incident comes days after US President Donald Trump took to twitter to target four democratic congresswomen including Minnesota’s Ilhan Omar, a Somali-born US citizen, asking them to “go back” where they came from. Trump’s target was obviously Radical Left, Jihadi Muslims and provocative anti-Isdraeli elements in US.
“Our Country is Free, Beautiful and Very Successful. If you hate our Country, or if you are not happy here, you can leave!” Donald Trump tweeted.
Hindu Demand for making Diwali as an official school holiday in NYC.
HIGHLIGHTS
>Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is the most popular Hindu holy day
>There are 3 million Hindus in the United States and 1 billion worldwide
>Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists also celebrate this festival, Nov. 11 this year.
Flo Johnston | The News & Observer | July 14, 2015:: As the number of Hindu students in both North Carolina public and private schools continues to increase, public schools are being urged to include Diwali, the most popular Hindu holy day, as an official school holiday in the 2015-16 school calendars and beyond.
Rajan Zed, president of Universal Society of Hinduism, says it is unfair to require Hindu students to attend school on this holiday.
“This does not send a good signal to the impressionable minds of school children,” he says. “Holidays of all major religions should be honored and no one should be penalized for practicing their religion. Moreover, it is important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of these students.”
Hindu advocacy groups rallied in demand of Hindu holidays in NYC schools.
Hindu families celebrate Diwali day together at home, but parents do not want children deprived of any privileges at school because of absences on this day.
Hinduism is rich in religious festivals, sacred to Hindus. Diwali, the festival of lights, aims to dispel darkness and light up lives, symbolizing the victory of good over evil.
In addition to Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and some Buddhists also celebrate this festival, which will fall on Nov. 11 this year.
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about 1 billion adherents and “moksh” or liberation is its ultimate goal. There are about 3 million Hindus in the United States.
Read also: Hindu Groups of USA to Hold “Grand Rally” in demand of Diwali holiday in NYC public schools.
A sign of the growing presence of Hindus in North Carolina is the recent announcement of a new Hindu temple in Charlotte.
Groundbreaking on a 17.5 acre site for Trimurti Temple Devasthanam was held last month. The 10,000 square-foot temple to be built in the traditional South Indian architectural style will include sanctums to house Hindu deities hand carved from black stone and imported from India.
Besides a sanctuary for worship services, the temple will house a hall, greenhouse and pond. Grand opening is set for March 15, 2016.
Hindu advocacy groups rallied in demand of Hindu holidays in NYC schools.
HENB | NYC | April 10, 2015:: A team of the American Hindu Council and allied advocacy groups called on Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday to add Hindu holidays into the public school vacation calendar. Hundreds of demonstrators rallied on Broadway near City Hall Park, in Manhattan with festoons and placards demanding Hindu rights for Holidays in Diwali, Janmastami and Dussera.
United Hindu groups participated in the rally with full zest to draw the attention of the City Mayor to stop the discrimination
