Electeds Condemn Vandalism of Gandhi Statue in Richmond Hill

Elected officials and community leaders gathered in Richmond Hill on Tuesday to condemn the recent vandalism of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside a Hindu temple in the neighborhood last week.

Local leaders say three unidentified men vandalized, smashed and knocked over the statue of the late civil rights leader on Wednesday, Aug. 3. The statue is located outside of Shri Tulsi Mandir, a Hindu temple located on 111^th Street in Richmond Hill. No arrests have been made for the vandalism.

On Tuesday, Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar, who represents the area and is the first Hindu American elected to the state legislature, brought together elected leaders from around the borough, including Rep. Gregory Meeks, Assemblymember David Weprin and State Senator Joe Addabbo.

In front of the temple, Rajkumar called for the alleged vandalism to be investigated and prosecuted as a hate crime.

She said that it was particularly egregious that the crime was committed in Richmond Hill, home not only to a large population of South Asian residents, but also as one of the most diverse areas in the city.

“Hindus believe not just in tolerance, but in one step more than tolerance– actively loving and respecting people of different backgrounds and faiths,” Rajkumar said. “This was Mahatma Gandhi’s dream– a peaceful, loving world. We have achieved Gandhi’s dream in Richmond Hill, where Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jews, and Christians live together in harmony, often on the same block.”

“The desecration of Gandhi statues and anti-Hindu hate crimes will not be tolerated in Richmond Hill or anywhere in New York State,” she added.

While the vandalism has not been classified as a hate crime by the NYPD, hate crimes across the city have seen an increase this year.

In 2022, there have been over 330 confirmed hate incidents, a 127 percent increase when compared to the same period in 2020, according to NYPD data. There were around the same number of hate crime incidents in 2021 through August as there have been this year, NYPD data shows.

“Whenever places of worship are defaced, vandalized or attacked we must ask why the perpetrators did it and address the situation,” Addabbo said. “That is what we are doing here at the Tulsi Mandir temple since their Gandhi statue was vandalized and knocked over last week.”

“I will work with my colleagues on the governmental level, the police force and the community so we can find these vandals and make sure justice is served, while continuing to promote the awareness and education that vandalizing religious sites and statues hurts not only the house of worship, but the entire community,” he added.

Meeks called the vandalism a “vile desecration.”

“Acts of hate have no place in our community and nation and the perpetrators need to be held accountable,” the congressman said. “Let this moment stand as a testament to our ability to unite and strive for peace in our neighborhoods throughout Southeast Queens.”

“I am committed to work with Assemblywoman Rajkumar and leaders here, as well as, my colleagues in Washington, D.C. to fight against the scourge of hatred and intolerance permeating our communities,” he added. “We cannot stand idly by and let dangerous rhetoric and actions inspire fear, but we can come together to support each other in this tragic moment.”

Pandit Lakhram Maharaj, the founder and spiritual leader of the mandir, instead called for healing.

“Our statue of Mohandas Gandhi represented our Hindu values of love, respect, and peace,” the Hindu leader said. “The statue may be gone, but the values it embodied will endure forever, and they must guide us as we respond to this incident. What we want is not revenge against the perpetrators, but mutual understanding; not punishment, but healing.”

There have been a number of high profile alleged and confirmed hate incidents in Rajkumar’s district in the past year.
In April, a 70-year-old Sikh man visiting Richmond Hill from India was beaten in an unprovoked attack on Lefferts Boulevard and 95^th Avenue, blocks away from a major Sikh temple in the neighborhood.

Several days later, two other Sikh men were attacked in a similar fashion.

Vernon Douglas, a 19-year-old from Brooklyn, was later arrested and charged in the hate attacks. He died in July after being stabbed in the chest in Brownsville, according to reports.

Last month, Rajkumar and other elected officials rallied behind Jill LeCroix, a white Queens resident who was allegedly attacked on a bus in Woodhaven by three women who verbalized that they were attacking her because of her race.

Two teenage girls were arrested and charged with hate crimes in relation to the attack at the end of July.

“I am appalled that we have to keep convening in circumstances like this again and again,” Weprin said on Tuesday. “Vandalism, threats, or intimidation against any of our houses of worship will never be tolerated.”

Article courtesy Queens Eagle. Reproduced with permission.