ADL event on CA hate bill affirms Hindu-Jewish solidarity on swastikas J. – The Jewish News of Northern California
Posted By admin on August 16, 2022
The Anti-Defamation League strongly supports the right to display a swastika.
Not the Nazi symbol thats been an emblem of hate and terror for 100 years, but the ancient Hindu, Jain and Buddhist symbol of peace.
The distinction between the two figured prominently in a dialogue between Kendall Kosai, director of policy for the ADLs Pacific Northwest division, and Fremont resident Samir Kalra, managing director of the Hindu American Foundation. The Aug. 10 conversation was livestreamed.
Much had to do with the language in AB 2282. That bill, now working its way through the Legislature, would expand California hate crime statutes and equalize penalties for the use of various hate symbols with the intent to terrorize others. It would also amend the penal code, adding language that would exempt non-hateful displays of the swastika relevant to Hindu, Jain and Buddhist cultures.
The webinar was intended to show solidarity between the Jewish and Hindu communities and to offer a way forward on what is a very sensitive issue for both.
While supporting the bill, both Kalra and Kosai stressed the need for ongoing dialogue between Hindus and Jews, for whom the Nazi swastika is an indelible symbol of hate.
Were clear on the meaning, said Kalra. It is a sacred symbol for our community, but were also clear [that] unfortunately it is still used in a hateful context. We want to fight to protect our communitys ability to safely practice our religious traditions in our home and religious ceremonies. At the same time, we want to be sensitive to the needs of Jewish communities and others that have suffered from antisemitism, white supremacy and hate crime.
Kosai, who is fourth-generation Japanese American, noted that symbols are a tool in the toolbox of hate groups and that the Nazi swastika is a particularly potent one.
The Jewish community has a painful history with hateful symbols, Kosai said. The swastika was misappropriated. It evokes a really painful memory for Jews. The bill decriminalizes the swastika for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists. We believe this bill strikes the right balance in moving the ball forward. It sends a message that the Legislature is taking note of this as an issue and responding to it.
AB 2282 was authored by two Jewish Assembly members, Rebecca Bauer-Kahan of San Ramon and Marc Levine of Marin, both members of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus. The bill says it is the intent of the Legislature to criminalize, for the purpose of terrorizing a person, the display or placement of the Nazi swastika and not swastikas associated with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
It sailed through the Assembly unopposed in May and is now under consideration in the state Senate. Kalra says the bill is an important first step, but much more will need to be done to remove any stigma surrounding the display of the swastika.
The larger goal is to increase education and awareness, he said. Its important to bring multiple faith communities together to address it as one. It starts with educating our Jewish friends, neighbors and others about the importance of the swastika, and not to confuse it with the Hakenkreuz. A lot of the interfaith work goes to increasing understanding.
The word swastika comes from the Sanskrit word svastika, which means good fortune or well-being, according to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Hakenkreuz, or hooked cross, is the German term, but no other word in English refers to the symbol.
While it may seem odd that the ADL would strongly support use of a symbol that had been misappropriated to inspire hate and terror, in this case, it fits with the organizations longstanding goals.
ADL has historically had a dual mission, Kosai said. To stop defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice for everyone. Those are equally important. In being a good ally and working together with other faiths, its important that [ADL] is inclusive, compassionate, thoughtful and supportive. The last thing we want to do as an organization is to create more misunderstandings or bias against other communities.
Both Kosai and Kalra seemed to understand that overcoming 100 years of malign use of the swastika will be a challenge, especially for Jews. But both also agreed that education is crucial to demystifying the original meaning of the swastika.
It starts at the K-12 level, Kalra said. We are very involved in a K-12 education reform process. We train teachers, do presentations in the school. We talk about symbols. There are opportunities to work with groups like ADL, and making this part of the curriculum.
Added Kosai, Im a believer that the interfaith approach is critical. The ways our own histories align so clearly in parallel is apparent. Through the interfaith approach you start from a place of good intent.
Go here to see the original:
ADL event on CA hate bill affirms Hindu-Jewish solidarity on swastikas J. - The Jewish News of Northern California
- After Pittsburgh Shootings, a Nationwide Network Tracks Antisemitic ... - May 30th, 2023
- Jonathan Greenblatt: Education is crucial in combating the rise of antisemitism in America - Yahoo News - May 30th, 2023
- FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Releases First-Ever U.S. ... - The White House - May 30th, 2023
- Racing to save the stories of the last Holocaust survivors - Axios - May 30th, 2023
- Threads of Hate: How Twitter's Content Moderation Misses the Mark - ADL - May 30th, 2023
- Who are the anti-Putin groups behind the Belgorod raid into Russia? - NBC News - May 30th, 2023
- FUSE Theatres "Falsettos" Hits All The Right Notes At Bregamos - Arts Council of Greater New Haven - May 30th, 2023
- 3 out of 4 Chinese Americans faced racial discrimination in past year, new survey finds - Yahoo News - May 30th, 2023
- Daily Kickoff: What's in the WH's antisemitism strategy + Inside ... - Jewish Insider - May 30th, 2023
- QAnon is Resurgent on Twitter - ADL - May 26th, 2023
- US Congress members demand that PayPal end ban on Palestinian business - The Guardian - May 26th, 2023
- Adidas survives Ye, while other brands still face backlash for scandals - Axios - May 26th, 2023
- The COVID vaccine deniers and QAnon believers coming to speak ... - Source New Mexico - May 26th, 2023
- Incidents of anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ hate on rise in Hartland - FOX 2 Detroit - May 26th, 2023
- Montana Jewish Project 'perplexed,' 'saddened,' by Speaker of the ... - Daily Montanan - May 26th, 2023
- The Shomer: Self-Avowed Nazi Held Without Bail On Weapons ... - Colorado Times Recorder - May 26th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League CEO on concerns of disinformation and ... - CNBC - May 24th, 2023
- Hate crimes increased by 30% in 2022, ADL report finds - WBUR News - May 24th, 2023
- Adidas hits back Kanye West with Yeezy profits to ADL - The News International - May 24th, 2023
- Hate crimes in Mass. grew by a third in 2022, ADL report finds - The Boston Globe - May 24th, 2023
- Hate in the Bay State: Extremism & Antisemitism in Massachusetts ... - ADL - May 24th, 2023
- Teacher's antisemitic conspiracy theories were 'swept under the rug ... - San Francisco Chronicle - May 24th, 2023
- The COVID vaccine deniers and QAnon believers coming to speak ... - Arizona Mirror - May 24th, 2023
- Daily Kickoff: When will the White House release its strategy on ... - Jewish Insider - May 24th, 2023
- Police: Swastika painted on roof of Hatherly Road house in Scituate - The Patriot Ledger - May 24th, 2023
- Targets Pride collection is the latest casualty of increasing intolerance - Yahoo Finance - May 24th, 2023
- District Leader to be Honored at ADL Ceremony - Hudson Valley Press - May 24th, 2023
- Removal of Nazi Symbols From School's Sound of Music' Performance Draws Mixed Reaction - NBC Southern California - May 24th, 2023
- Sacramento's Jewish mayor rebukes antisemite in council meeting ... - The Jewish News of Northern California - May 24th, 2023
- Adidas to donate Yeezy proceeds to Anti-Defamation League and other NGOs - Reuters - May 22nd, 2023
- Adidas Yeezy Sales Are Going to Anti-Defamation League, George Floyd Familys Organization - Yahoo Entertainment - May 22nd, 2023
- Kanye Wests Yeezy sales will benefit ADL, Adidas announces - Geo News - May 22nd, 2023
- Adidas Will Donate Yeezy Proceeds to Anti-Defamation League and George Floyd's Family Foundation - XXLMAG.COM - May 22nd, 2023
- Share of Profits From Adidas and Yeezy Sales To Go to Anti ... - The Source Magazine - May 22nd, 2023
- Musk attacks ADL for saying his anti-Soros tweets will embolden antisemites - The Times of Israel - May 22nd, 2023
- How Missourians are combating antisemitism in their communities - PBS NewsHour - May 22nd, 2023
- The allure of fascism: why do minorities join the far right? - The Guardian - May 22nd, 2023
- 'It's nothing new:' Rise in antisemitic incidents in Virginia - News 3 WTKR Norfolk - May 22nd, 2023
- How an ADL spy operation helped bring down the far-right John Birch Society - The Times of Israel - May 22nd, 2023
- Nakba denial is at the heart of pro-Israel lobbying - Mondoweiss - May 22nd, 2023
- Justin Reid Ehrenwerth, Squirrel Hill native who was member of ... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - May 22nd, 2023
- Elon Musk takes aim at the Anti-Defamation League after its CEO says ... - May 20th, 2023
- Adidas will sell existing Yeezy items, donate some revenues - CNBC - May 20th, 2023
- Statement by the Anti-Defamation League's Task Force on Middle ... - ADL - May 20th, 2023
- Antisemitism: Highland Park, IL police department searching for person who used painters tape to put swastika symbol on trash can - WLS-TV - May 20th, 2023
- Pittsburgh confronts antisemitism as Tree of Life shooting trial nears - The Washington Post - May 20th, 2023
- How Maryland lawmakers dealt with hate crimes in their yearly session - WYPR - May 20th, 2023
- Entertainment News Roundup: Adidas to donate Yeezy proceeds to Anti-Defamation League and other NGOs; Away from the Cannes glamour, hospitality staff... - May 20th, 2023
- She's bringing her Hindu perspective to a new role at the ADL - The Jewish News of Northern California - May 20th, 2023
- Adidas will finally start to move its $1.3 billion mountain of unsold Yeezy sneakers within days - Business Insider India - May 20th, 2023
- Staffer of Rep. Paul Gosar reportedly linked to white nationalist group - Arizona's Family - May 20th, 2023
- Lawmakers want to track foreign doxing and cyber harassment ... - SC Media - May 20th, 2023
- States with the most hate crimes: Where does South Dakota rank? - Newscenter1.tv - May 20th, 2023
- End of Title 42 is step in right direction: Peter Svarzbein - El Paso Times - May 20th, 2023
- Report: Antisemitic incidents on the rise in California - May 13th, 2023
- Bill Kristol Speaks at Anti-Defamation League Leadership Summit - May 6th, 2023
- Ambassador Susan E. Rice Remarks at Anti-Defamation League National ... - May 6th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League opens Brooklyn satellite office to ... - April 29th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League opens Borough Park office, citing 40 ... - April 29th, 2023
- 'Need to be held accountable': Florida firefighter posed as Hitler giving Nazi salute, according to complaint - FOX 35 Orlando - April 27th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League condemns antisemitic act against Clark High ... - April 25th, 2023
- Forever on Edge - The American Mind - April 16th, 2023
- North Texas man sentenced to federal prison for threatening Anti ... - April 14th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League's Youth Congress encourages 'courageous ... - April 14th, 2023
- Denton man gets 2 years in prison for sending threats to the Anti ... - April 14th, 2023
- Antisemitic incidents hit a record high in 2021. Whats behind ... - PBS - April 14th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League survey finds spike in antisemitic beliefs - NPR - April 14th, 2023
- The Anti-Defamation League: Gaming companies do not prevent anti ... - April 14th, 2023
- 33 Hate, Extremist Groups Active In Virginia: Report - April 14th, 2023
- Parents accused of child cruelty claim to be immune Moorish sovereign ... - April 14th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League Blasted for Becoming Just Another Tool for the Left - April 12th, 2023
- Inside the fight for ADL, which some Jewish critics call a tool of ... - April 8th, 2023
- As white nationalist activity rises, Mass. AGs office exploring legal action against hate groups - MassLive.com - April 7th, 2023
- Hate crimes: Spike in antisemitic incidents prompts new security ... - March 31st, 2023
- Antisemitic incidents rose 36% last year to highest number ... - March 25th, 2023
- ADL tracked 3,697 cases of antisemitic harassment, vandalism ... - March 25th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League reports dramatic rise in antisemitism ... - March 25th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League reports all-time high white supremacist ... - March 20th, 2023
- Anti-Defamation League Forms Entertainment Leadership Council ... - March 10th, 2023
- Kanye Wests Rants Tied to 30 Nationwide Antisemitic Incidents: Anti ... - February 17th, 2023
Comments