After a spurt in anti-Hindu vandalism in Northern Virginia, an emergency town hall meeting was hosted by state Delegate David Ramadan (R-87th District) and Loudoun Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Plowman, which was attended by law enforcement officials and more than 150 residents in the area.

Since July 2014, there have been 17 reported cases of graffiti, some of which uses language that disparages the Hindu culture. The vandalism has occurred on signs and bridges the Brambleton area, including most recently in the areas of Northstar Boulevard, Morning Walk Drive, Winter Haven Drive, Ryan Road at Forest Manor Drive and Shreveport Drive. The graffiti depicted anti-Hindu messages such as ‘No Hindus Allowed.’

A majority of the graffiti has been written in black marker on exercise stations, park benches, a pedestrian tunnel and community signs.

The town hall meeting on October 3, at Creighton’s Corner Elementary in Ashburn was attended by Sheriff Mike Chapman, County Chairman Scott York, Vice Chairman Shawn Williams, Supervisor Matt Letourneau, Senator Jennifer Wexton (D–33), Delegate Barbara Comstock (R-34), Captain Eric Prugh, FBI Special Agent Michael McGarrity, leaders from the Hindu and Telugu communities, leaders from the Rajdhani Mandir temple and others from the Indian-American community.

At the town hall meeting, the Indian community promised to contribute $20,000 to the $1,000 reward fund offered by the Brambleton Homeowners Association to nab the perpetrators.

‘Northern Virginia is a very diverse community, with individuals and families from all racial, religious, and cultural backgrounds. I find it very disturbing that there are individuals who are willing to destroy private property and spew hate against our Hindu neighbors,” Ramadan said at the meeting.

‘We have got to kill this from day one. The graffiti says no Hindu. I'll tell you yes Hindu...We will not stand for any discrimination or any bigotry.

‘It was important to hold this meeting to make sure that all members of the community were up-to-date on what steps local officials and law enforcement were taking to ensure the safety and peace in our neighborhoods. There is no room for such hate in our community,’ Ramadan said.

Representatives of the HAF joined local Hindu community leaders. ‘It was inspiring to see the community come together in response to these hateful messages,’ noted SriVani Ganti, HAF's director of member and chapter relations, who attended the meeting. ‘The commitment demonstrated by both law enforcement and the community in combating these crimes reinforces the American principle of pluralism.’

So far nobody has been physically attacked. There was a report of damage to a garage. The vandalism occurred mostly in Loudoun County and in public places, Harsh Voruganti, Hindu American Foundation’s associate director of public policy, said.

‘The Hindu American community has faced attacks and prejudice in the past, but has maintained its faith despite the hate,’ noted Harsh Voruganti. ‘We look forward to working with the FBI and the local community to ensure that all individuals, regardless of religion, feel safe and welcome in Loudoun county.’