Chicago Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi meets with South Asian leaders on growing hate crime concerns 

CHICAGO (Diya TV) — Illinois congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has been working proactively with members of the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Muslim-American communities in and around his district to speak to their unique and shared concerns regarding the recent spike in hate crimes taking place across the nation.

Rep. Krishnamoorthi met last week with leaders from the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain-American communities of Chicago, where the dialogue ranged from the congressman’s objections to CNN’s Believer series’ alleged wrongful portrayal of Hinduism, to his continuing efforts on immigration issues, and his ongoing work to address the national increase in hate crimes.

Those in attendance shared personal accounts of the challenges they faced from the growing national climate of hostility and increasing fears around hate-motivated violence.

Krishnamoorthi has also been meeting with members of the Chicago Muslim-American community, and recently visited the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park and Muslim Society Inc. in Glendale Heights.“I’m glad I’ve been able to meet with so many members of our community to discuss the challenges we face,” he said in a press release. “In Congress, I work every day to support our communities on such issues as immigration and religious freedom while fighting to combat the surge in hate crimes and broader hostility which has struck members of our community across the country, and sewn fear in many others.”

Following the February Olathe shooting that left Srinivas Kuchibhotla dead and two others injured, Krishnamoorthi called on attorney general Jeff Sessions to use the full power of his office to combat the surging rate of hate crimes taking place across the nation. A member of the House Oversight Committee, he called for the committee to hold hearings on the issue through both a formal letter and a speech on the House floor.

More recently, Krishnamoorthi has authored and is circulating a congressional letter calling upon Secretary Kelly of the Department of Homeland Security to use the resources of his department to address the increase in hate crimes against religious minorities in the country.

“In each of these meetings, I was inspired by the love of country demonstrated by the leaders I spoke to, but also by their deeply-rooted commitments to their religions,” he said. “Part of the greatness of our country is that it does not force us to abandon our faiths, it welcomes them into the American mosaic with us. We will continue to take heart in the knowledge that this country belongs to all of us and we will work together against those forces that would challenge that national promise.”