Page 23 - The Indian EYE 092024

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline SEPTEMBER 20, 2024 | The Indian Eye 23

the statement read.
Community members gathered
at the site of the desecration to offer
prayers for peace and unity and were
supported by local, state and feder-
al leaders representing Long Island,
including U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota,
U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, Suffolk Coun-
ty Executive Ed Romaine, Deputy
New York State Assembly Speaker
Phil Ramos, New York State Sena-
tor Mario Mattera, New York State
Assemblyman Keith Brown, New
York State Assemblyman Steve Stern,
Suffolk County Comptroller John
Kennedy, Suffolk County Legislator
Jason Richberg, Suffolk County Leg-
islator Rebecca Sanin, Suffolk Coun-
ty Deputy Under Sheriff Keith Tay-
lor, Suffolk County Police Precinct
Supervisor William Scrima, Hunting-
ton Township Police Inspector Kev-
in Williams, Huntington Township
Superintendent Andre Sorrentino, also were present to show their sup-
Huntington Township Supervisor Ed port – a powerful testament to our
Smyth, Huntington Township Clerk shared values of respect and unity.
Andrew Raia, Suffolk County Assis- Meanwhile, the Hindu Amer-
tant District Attorney Allen Bode, ican Foundation has urged the US
North Hempstead Town Clerk Rag- Justice Department to investigate
ini Shrivastava, Babylon Township the attack on BAPS Hindu Temple
Councilman Dwayne Gregory and in New York.
Rod Calarco, Representative of the In a post X, the Hindu American
Governor of New York. Foundation stated, “Hindu temple in
Representatives from communi- Melville, NY shared by OnTheNews-
ty organizations including NAACP Beat after recent threats to Hindu
President Tracey Edwards, Rabbi institutions as a large Indian commu-
Susie Moskowitz from Temple Beth nity gathering is planned in nearby
Torah, Rabbi Elizabeth Zeller from Nassau County this weekend.”
Temple Chaverim, Pastor Tom John- Earlier in July, the BAPS Swa-
son from St. Lutheran Church and minarayan Mandir was vandalized du-Canadian communities. last few years, Hindu temples in the
Hassan Ahmed of Masjid Darul Qu- in Canada’s Edmonton. Canadian In a post on X, Chandra Arya Greater Toronto Area, British Co-
ran as well as a representative from MP Chandra Arya voiced deep con- stated, “The Hindu temple BAPS lumbia, and other places in Canada
American Jewish Committee and the cern over the escalating incidents of Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmon- are being vandalized with hateful
various Hindu Mandirs in the area hate-fueled violence directed at Hin- ton is vandalized again. During the graffiti.”

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