A Guide to Temple Safety and Security About HAF
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A Guide to Temple Safety and Security About HAF The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) is a non-profit advocacy organization for the Hindu American community. Founded in 2003, HAF’s work impacts a range of issues—from the portrayal of Hinduism in K-12 textbooks to civil and human rights to addressing contemporary problems, such as environmental protection and inter-religious conflict, by applying Hindu philosophy. Why Do We Need This Guide At more than three million strong, the Hindu American community is one of the fastest growing American religious communities. While most Hindus are of South Asian origin, the Hindu American community includes individuals of Caribbean, African, South American, Southeast Asian, and Caucasian descent. To maintain a connection to their faith, the Hindu American community relies on a network of nearly 1000 temples spread out over 45 states. These temples, varied and diverse in their practices, serve as spiritual centers, community nexuses, and cultural hubs. The growth and resilience of Hindu temples mirrors that of the community itself. However, as they grow more visible, Hindu temples face unique challenges, ranging from hostility of surrounding communities and government bureaucracy to hate crimes and violence. This guide was created by the Hindu American Foundation to serve as a resource for temple leaders, enabling them to navigate these challenges, and maintain a vibrant, active, and secure temple community. Hindu American Foundation // A Guide to Temple Safety and Security // 1 Hate Crimes The Hindu American community has a long history of being targeted for hate crimes. From the “dotbuster gangs” that attacked Hindu men and women wearing tilak during the 1980s to the recent attack on a Kentucky Hindu temple, the community has sought to combat hate crimes effectively. Due to their visibility and prominence, Hindu temples are particularly attractive targets for hate crimes.. ❱ Anti-Property Defining Hate Crimes • Vandalism Hate crimes or “bias” crimes • Arson are crimes motivated by the • Graffiti perpetrator’s bias against a • Trespassing particular group of people on the basis of race, religion, national Making threats against a origin, sex, sexual orientation, religious institution is also a age, or disability. Hate crimes federal crime and if that threat are simultaneously impersonal results in damage or destruction and fundamentally personal. to religious property, criminal They are impersonal because penalties will be imposed. the perpetrator usually does not The key factor in identifying a know the victim and commits the hate crime is the fact that the crime against him/her because perpetrator was motivated, in he/she was simply the first part or in whole, by the victim’s African American, Muslim, Hindu, actual or perceived characteristic. etc. person the perpetrator came In identifying hate crimes, across. And yet, these crimes are investigators can look to many fundamentally personal because factors including: the victim was attacked because of a foundational part of his or her ❱ Identifying characteristics identity. Therefore, both because of victim or property hate crimes are more difficult to ❱ Perpetrator’s statements deter and because they inflict ❱ Perpetrator’s actions greater harm on the victim, nearly ❱ Perpetrator’s previous history every State punishes hate crimes more harshly. A key point is that the perpetrator’s perception controls the designation of a hate crime. Identifying Hate If an individual or property is Crimes targeted by a perpetrator with an anti-Hindu bias, the individual’s Hate crimes can be directed or property’s actual religious against individuals, groups, and affiliation is irrelevant. both real and personal property. Hate crimes can take many forms Additionally, not all crimes including: targeting Hindu temples are hate crimes. If a temple is targeted for ❱ Anti-Individual/Group theft and vandalism, and there • Physical assault/battery is no evidence suggesting that • Verbal harassment/threats the crime was motivated by an Hindu American Foundation // A Guide to Temple Safety and Security // 3 anti-Hindu bias, then the crimes • If possible, install security are not treated as hate crimes. cameras and a monitored For example, the 2014 vandalism alarm system of the Vishwa Bhavan Hindu 2. Develop a Proactive Mandir in Monroe, Georgia was Relationship with Law not prosecuted as a hate crime Enforcement because the perpetrators had • Connect with your local law also targeted a nearby church and enforcement agency BEFORE parking lot, and as such, there an incident occurs (see was no evidence that they were Engaging the Community motivated by anti-Hindu animus. below for details) • Invite Law Enforcement Preventing Hate representatives to temple events Crimes and Active 3. Create a Contingency Plan Shooter Incidents for Incidents • Develop the contingency In 2013, thanks to the efforts of plan in conjunction with law the Hindu American Foundation enforcement and other activists, the FBI • Ensure that the plan has agreed to begin federal tracking clearly delineated tasks, and of anti-Hindu hate crimes. The responsibilities goal of such tracking, which began in 2015, is to prevent and • Train temple staff and volunteers be better prepared for future on the contingency plan incidents of bias-motivated • Print out and visibly post violence. The unfortunate reality the Active Shooter - How is that such attacks may not to Respond Poster on the be completely preventable or temple premises: https://www. predictable, but temples can dhs.gov/sites/default/files/ implement protocols to better publications/active-shooter- prepare and protect its members poster-2017-508.pdf in the event a hate crime or active 4. Work with Other Religious Bodies shooter incident does occur by • Reach out to other temples, following basic steps: churches, mosques, and 1. Evaluate Vulnerabilities of synagogues to learn from their Temple Premises security protocols. Create a • Conduct a thorough check of relationship with these entities doors, windows, and locks, to share information and to ensure that they all work helpful tips After reporting incidents to law Responding to Hate enforcement, please help us Crimes by filling out HAF’s Anti-Hindu Hate and Hinduphobia Incident If your temple is targeted for a Reporting Form: hate crime or a hate incident, it is https://www.hafsite.org/media/pr/ important to report the incident report-bias-motivated-crimes immediately. While the temptation to ignore minor vandalism is significant, it is essential that all Resources incidents, no matter how minor, are reported. Law enforcement The Hindu American Foundation’s cannot respond to crimes unless “Know Your Rights” Guide: they have a full record of all the http://hafsite.org/sites/default/ incidents that have occurred. files/HAF_KnowYour%20Rights_ Expanded.pdf When reporting the incident, be sure to give a full and complete The Hindu American Foundation’s description of the incident, the “Countering Hate: Guide for Hate damage, and any information about Crime Victims:” the perpetrators, if available. https://www.hafsite.org/sites/ default/files/HAFN_17_013- After making a report, please ask HateCrime2Pager_r4_web.pdf for the officer’s information, and follow up with the appropriate officer The Hindu American Foundation’s regularly on the progress of the case. Hate Crimes and Domestic Terror Strike Preparedness Resources: We also request that you help us in https://www.hafsite.org/media/pr/ tracking incidents of identity-based hate-crimes-and-domestic-terror- or bias-motivated intimidation, strike-preparedness threats, harassment, and violence being experienced in our Federal Emergency Management communities. The more data we Agency (FEMA): have about such incidents, the https://www.fema.gov/faith- better we will be able to work resources with the appropriate authorities, Federal Bureau of Investigation: agencies, civil rights advocates, https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/ and other stakeholders to civil-rights/hate-crimes identify areas of particular concern and ensure the safety Department of Justice, Community and security of the community. Relations Service: https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes Hindu American Foundation // A Guide to Temple Safety and Security // 5 Immigration For a Hindu temple to function effectively, it needs qualified religious workers. Most Hindu temples meet their staff needs by hiring religious workers trained in India, who enter the United States under an R-1 Temporary Nonimmigrant Religious Worker Visa or the EB-4 Special Immigrant Non- Minister provision in the Religious Worker Visa Program. As Hindu Americans do not have the facilities to train religious workers domestically, virtually all Hindu religious workers come in under one of these provisions of the Religious Worker Visa program. Such dependence makes it essential for temples to understand how to navigate the American immigration system. would also not be impacted by an The Religious Worker end to the EB-4 Special Immigrant Visa Program visa program for Non-Ministers. The EB-4 Special Immigrant The Religious Worker Visa provision in the Religious Worker program, as currently construed, Visa Program, enacted by is divided into two provisions: Congress in 1990, is the primary the Minister and Non-Minister avenue by which many foreign provision. Each provision allows religious workers coming to the temples to sponsor different U.S. can apply for permanent categories of workers. resident status, while the R-1 The Minister