[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 145 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             VANDALS DEFACED BAPS SHRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Hageman). The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, we all know that hate has always been a 
part of the human existence, but we see so many hate crimes today.
  Late Sunday night, vandals defaced the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir 
on Long Island with vile hate and bigotry against the Hindu community.
  I have seen Hindus many times, and many of you have as well, when 
they place their hands together and they bow and they say ``namaste,'' 
``I bow to you.'' When they do that, they are recognizing the divinity 
in the person in front of them. They are showing their respect for the 
person in front of them.
  We really need to recognize that with all of our fellow human beings, 
that we are all special, made in God's image, and we need to treat each 
other with more respect.
  What is happening that we see these acts of vandalism, bigotry, and 
hate happening so often?
  Is it because of the inflammatory rhetoric we hear all the time?
  Is it because of extremism?
  Is it because of the lack of accountability?
  What do we need to do to address this problem because hate is not the 
answer. Love is the answer.
  In the short term, we need to hold vandals, criminals, and people who 
commit hate crimes accountable. We need law enforcement to work to 
apprehend these criminals, and we need prosecutors to prosecute them to 
hold them accountable because people can't just say whatever they want 
regardless of the impact it has on other human beings.
  In the long term, we need to do a much better job educating people 
about the importance of love and of respect for other people.
  On Monday, I stood in unity with the BAPS community gathering with 
State and local officials, people from different religions, Democrats 
and Republicans from the Federal, State, and local level. We spoke out 
for the values that the people of the BAPS community stand for, that 
Long Islanders stand for, that New Yorkers stand for, and that 
Americans stand for.
  Let's remember the importance of mutual respect and love and the role 
they play here in our country and in our world. Love will always win 
out.

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