New Hyde Park Sikh Gurdwara Vandalized with Hate Speech Before Opening
The Sikh community in New Hyde Park faced a deeply painful act of hate when their new Gurdwara construction site was vandalized with slurs, but the community's resilience drew powerful expressions of solidarity from elected officials and neighbors.
Sikh Gurdwara Construction Site Hit with Hate Speech Vandalism
Local community leaders and politicians expressed support for the Sikh American community after vandals attacked the construction site of a gurdwara being built in New Hyde Park, New York, as reported by the New York State Senate newsroom. The attack occurred between the night of August 2 and the morning of August 3, 2021, with vandals spray painting the construction site of the Darbar Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji gurdwara with hate speech and racial slurs. The incident occurred just days before the ninth anniversary of the mass shooting at the Oak Creek, Wisconsin gurdwara, when avowed neo-Nazi Wade Michael Page fatally shot six people and wounded four others during Sunday morning prayers, making the timing especially painful for the community. New York State Senators Kevin Thomas and Todd Kaminsky met with leaders of the Darbar Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji gurdwara on August 6 to express solidarity with those affected. Senator Kevin Thomas, an Indian American politician, posted on Facebook condemning the act of hate and intolerance against the Sikh community in Nassau County, calling it heartbreaking. Thomas invoked the Sikh concept of Chardi Kala, meaning eternal optimism, in praising the community's resilient response. He called on all to choose love over hate and pledged to stand with Sikh brothers and sisters. The article was originally published in India West and republished through the New York State Senate newsroom. [2]
🪔 Jain Temple of New York Plans New Queens Facility Near New Hyde Park
The Jain Temple of New York was planning a new facility at 259-16 79th Avenue in Floral Park, Queens, as reported by New York YIMBY. The proposed facility represents an effort by the Jain community to establish a dedicated place of worship and community gathering in the New York metropolitan area. The Jain community, which traces its spiritual heritage to ancient India, follows a path of non-violence, truth, and non-attachment, and having a formal temple would support the community's ability to observe religious traditions and festivals. The planned facility in Floral Park, Queens, is located near New Hyde Park in Nassau County, and would serve Jain families living throughout the New York metropolitan region. New York YIMBY reported on the planning for this new community facility, categorizing it as a community facility development in the Queens borough. The Jain community is part of the broader South Asian diaspora in the New York area, which includes significant populations from India in both Queens and Nassau County neighborhoods including New Hyde Park. The establishment of a dedicated Jain temple in the area would provide the community with a formal institutional home for religious practice, including the observance of Paryushana and other Jain festivals that require a dedicated sacred space for prayer and reflection. The address for the planned facility is 259-16 79th Avenue in Floral Park, Queens. [3]
Sources: [2] The New York State Senate (.gov) · [3] New York YIMBY