New York bill requires compulsory teaching of Dharmic symbol Swastika as a hate symbol: Here is why Hindus are outraged

Back in January, New York State Senator Todd Kaminsky introduced a bill in the New York Senate which would mandatorily require schools in the State of New York to teach ‘Swastika’, an auspicious and sacred symbol for Dharmic religions like Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, as an example of hate symbol. It’s not the first time Kaminsky has pushed for a bill like this, lacking the clear distinction between the Dharmic symbol Swastika and the Nazi symbol of Hakenkreuz. In 2019, Kaminsky introduced a bill very similar to Senate Bill S2727, this one titled S6648, which conflated the terms ‘Swastika’ and ‘Nazi’, without any consideration to the sentiments of various Dharmic religious communities. This wrong must be righted.” The Coalition of Hindus from North America launched a petition campaign in mid-2020, asking people to write and email local representatives from New York State to rename the swastika as the Hakenkreuz in the S6648 bill, to promote and circulate educational materials about the difference between these two symbols and consult stakeholders from the Jewish community as well as the Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, African-American and indigenous communities to help develop ‘culturally competent resources and messaging about this issue’.