BY VEENA RAO
Atlanta, GA, April 14, 2025: Georgia State Senator Shawn Still has introduced Senate Bill 375, a proposed piece of legislation that seeks to classify Hinduphobia as a hate crime under Georgia law. If enacted, the bill would allow for enhanced penalties when crimes are committed against individuals based on their Hindu faith.
The bill has bipartisan support. Its four sponsors include Senators Shawn Still and Clint Dixon, both Republicans, and Senators Jason Esteves and Emanuel Jones, both Democrats.
In a video statement posted to social media, Senator Still described SB 375 as “the first of its kind in Georgia and possibly the entire country.” He said the bill is the result of ongoing conversations with members of the Hindu American community and advocacy groups such as the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), and Hindus of Georgia PAC.
“There have been questions recently about a bill I introduced a few weeks ago, Senate Bill 375,” Still said. “This bill adds Hinduphobia to the list of hate crimes. That means if someone commits an illegal act against a Hindu on the basis of their faith, there are enhanced penalties.”
Still cited incidents of anti-Hindu sentiment in the U.S., including the appearance of anti-Hindu “dotbuster” signs in Forsyth County, Georgia, in 2021 and the vandalism of Hindu temples in states like California and New York. He said such incidents highlight the importance of protecting religious freedom and ensuring that hate crimes do not go unaddressed.
“Freedom to practice one’s faith is fundamental to being an American,” Still said. “This type of crime has no place in our country.”
Although the 2025 legislative session has concluded, SB 375 is expected to be taken up when the Georgia General Assembly reconvenes in January. The bill will likely be assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Senator Still is a member.
CoHNA expressed support for the legislation in a recent social media post: “Thank you @SenShawnStill for your leadership in tackling the growing problem of Hinduphobia and ensuring freedom of religion for ALL your constituents. We are proud to have partnered with you and your colleagues to build awareness on this critical issue.”
“Senator Still has always been a staunch supporter of the Hindu community and has stood with us during the tough times we faced. His commitment has been a beacon of hope for all the Hindus across the US. We are extremely thankful to him for his relentless pursuit of justice and equality,” said Rajeev Menon, founder of the Hindus of Georgia PAC.
Huge shoutouts to Senator Shawn Still and all the members and supporters of the Hindus of Georgia PAC, whose tireless efforts over the years to defend and protect the civil rights of the Hindu community led to this bill, said Dhiru Shah, a senior community leader and a board member of the PAC.
The organization also referenced Georgia’s earlier efforts in addressing Hinduphobia, including the passage of a 2023 resolution condemning anti-Hindu bigotry. SB 375, they noted, would build upon that foundation by introducing legal consequences for hate-motivated acts targeting the Hindu community.
CoHNA said the bill builds upon the important work that we started in April 2023 when the Georgia General Assembly passed a resolution condemning Hinduphobia.
The resolution stated that Hinduism is one of the largest and oldest religions in the world, with over 1.2 billion adherents in over 100 countries, and embodies diverse traditions and beliefs with values of peace, mutual respect, and acceptance.
Senator Still encouraged constituents to reach out with questions about the bill and emphasized his commitment to advancing it. “Let’s all work together to make Georgia a state free of religious hate, to support religious freedom, and to end Hinduphobia,” he said.
Thank you @SenShawnStill for your leadership in tackling the growing problem of Hinduphobia and ensuring freedom of religion for ALL your constitutents. We are proud to have partnered with you and your colleagues to build awareness on this critical issue. We urge everyone to… pic.twitter.com/7Aft8d05wO
— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) April 11, 2025
