LANSING, Mich., Sept. 3, 2021 — Next week, many prominent universities across the country are co-sponsors of the Dismantling Global Hindutva conference, with organizers and presenters who have ties to Hinduphobic beliefs. State Rep. Padma Kuppa (D-Troy) shared her concern about the anti-Hindu conference that numerous constituents have brought to her attention, citing their concerns.
“One of the benefits of higher education is that young adults have the opportunity to be exposed to different cultures and beliefs. While everyone has the right to freedom of speech, partnering with groups that ostracize a community of students for their religious beliefs is unacceptable. Families who have tweeted questions report harassment from the event’s social media accounts and attempts to silence their inquiry. I applaud the work of the organizations highlighting the bias and bullying that targets an individual’s identity, such as the Hindu American Foundation. Parents and students trust institutions of higher education to provide a safe learning environment, not facilitate a conference that actively promotes identity-based discrimination or hate speech. I encourage these universities to rethink their participation in this conference to ensure the safety and well-being of the Hindu students, staff and faculty on their campus.”
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