Hate Speech Fuels Hostility Against Indian Americans, Says Lawmaker
Washington, October 23
Hostility toward Indian Americans is escalating, and the rhetoric fueling it is beginning to produce real-world violence, according to Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. In a detailed interview, he linked a recent foiled attack on a Hindu temple near Chicago to a broader climate of intolerance and called on federal agencies to explain why the alleged plot went unnoticed for two years.
The incident occurred on October 11 outside the Balaji Temple. According to Krishnamoorthi, a potential mass killing was narrowly avoided because the attacker's firearm jammed after one round was fired.
“Families were inside celebrating Navratri, including mine,” he said. “None of us knew there was an armed man outside with an AR-15-style weapon and more than 300 rounds. He was preparing to kill large numbers of people.”
Krishnamoorthi said he has asked for a full inquiry into the matter, yet the FBI has not responded to his request. When questioned about FBI Director Kash Patel's silence, he replied, “I don't know. You would have to ask him.”
He also faulted lawmakers who have failed to publicly denounce the incident. Silence, he argued, sends a dangerous message. “When people stay quiet, it can seem as though they accept or endorse what happened,” he said. “Leaders should speak out against hatred directed at any faith or community, whether Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Christian or Sikh.”
According to the congressman, some of the most influential figures in the country bear responsibility for stoking hostility toward Indians and other Asian communities. “Unfortunately, some of the highest-profile leaders in our country are playing a role and encouraging this climate,” he said.
To illustrate his concern, Krishnamoorthi referenced Bo French, a Texas candidate aligned with the MAGA movement. French, he said, depicted Indian-origin children who had attended a football game as foreign invaders taking the place of Americans, although many of them were born in Texas. Krishnamoorthi described the remark as an expression of racial prejudice rather than a serious immigration debate.
He also took issue with a social media post published by the US Department of Education. The post combined a photograph of white fans at a University of Texas football game with the phrase “Make College Football Great Again.” Krishnamoorthi said such messaging contributes to the spread of divisive ideas.
“Pouring oil on a flame makes hateful language more powerful and more dangerous,” he said. “All it takes is one person to act on it. Right now, we are watching hateful rhetoric gradually turn into violence.”
On the temple incident itself, he said the suspect faces weapons charges along with an alleged terrorism-related accusation.
Investigators are handling the case, but Krishnamoorthi argued that federal authorities must pay far closer attention to domestic violent extremism. He said insufficient resources are being directed toward identifying homegrown violent activity, and this case shows the consequences. If the alleged plot had been underway for two years, he asked, why did intelligence agencies not detect it earlier?