Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Feb 1: Peaceful demonstrations and prayer vigils took place across nearly two dozen US cities as Hindu Americans protested what they described as systematic attacks on Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh, urging lawmakers and international bodies to take notice.
Rallies were held in cities including Princeton, Los Angeles, Chicago, the Bay Area, Detroit, and Tampa, with organisers stating that the coordinated events aimed to raise awareness and press for accountability.
At a Princeton rally, a speaker said participants had gathered “in support of the Bangladeshi Hindus and other minorities who are going through a genocide in Bangladesh,” claiming that over 3,000 attacks had occurred since last year. “It’s time to speak up. It’s time to stop,” the speaker said.
Protesters in Detroit described the situation as a “drip-drip genocide,” urging supporters to contact lawmakers, unite locally, and attend an upcoming event in Washington. A Congressional hearing on the matter is scheduled for February 9 at the US Capitol.
In Los Angeles, speakers combined prayer with civic advocacy, with one participant telling the crowd, “Please don’t be silent. Speak up because silence is acceptance. Stand up and be counted.”
The Coalition of Hindus of North America said organisers had launched an online petition to enable people to reach elected officials. FIA-Chicago and the National India Hub, which organised a rally in Schaumburg, Illinois, highlighted that “innocent Hindus are being brutally attacked solely for their religious identity” and warned that passivity only enables further violence.
Similar events were reported in Boston, Houston, and other cities, reflecting a “grassroots movement spanning from coast to coast,” according to a Bay Area rally statement. Organisers stressed that when innocent lives are at stake, “silence is not an option,” underlining the push for policy attention and international intervention regarding the plight of minorities in Bangladesh.