Atlanta, GA, August 13, 2024: On Sunday, August 11, at 8 p.m., members of the Atlanta Hindu community gathered at the Global Mall in Norcross, GA, to show support for Hindus facing persecution in Bangladesh. The event, which drew a combined crowd of 750 people from the afternoon and evening demonstrations, highlighted the community’s concern for religious minorities in the region.
The evening vigil began with an address from Congressman Shawn Still, who expressed solidarity with the Hindu community and called on the U.S. government and State Department to intervene in Bangladesh to ensure the safety and well-being of minority populations. He emphasized the need for lawmakers to condemn the ongoing violence in Bangladesh, which includes killings, assaults, and the destruction of property. Local Atlanta representative Sheikh Rahman also expressed support for the Hindu community and pledged to work towards addressing the violence through outreach to the Bangladeshi government.
Demonstrators carried banners, placards, and both American and Indian flags while chanting slogans such as “Hindu lives matter” and “United Nations, wake up.” The protest took place under police supervision on the pavement facing Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcross.
The event was organized by Dhiru Shah, Amitabh Sharma, and Rajeev Menon, with support from various associations and individuals. Organizers stressed the importance of global Hindu unity in preventing similar acts of violence from spreading to other regions.
