0
0
For Immediate Press Release 02/01/2021
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) strongly denounces the outrageous and shocking action of beheading and destroying Mahatma (Great Soul) Gandhi’s bronze statue in the Central Park of the city of Davis, California.
The symbolism of Gandhi – an apostle of peace and justice of tolerance and love of all humanity who inspired millions worldwide – is now being desecrated supposedly by anti-Indian groups who want to sow the seeds of discord in the Indo-American community. We urge those who are opposing Gandhi’s ideology of peace to express their protest in peaceful and democratic way. It would be better if they can engage in discussions instead of getting engaged in a violence.
This is not the first time that the statue, donated by Indian Council for Cultural Relations, has been desecrated. It happened in June of 2020 as well.
Gandhi is seen as a messenger of peace across the world. Gandhian principles inspired leaders such as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. who visited India to meet Gandhi and called him his “guiding light”.
We urge the City of Davis to bring the perpetrators of this act to justice and reinstall the statue, a source of inspiration for the entire humanity. Davis’s city needs to send the right message to the country and the world that these kinds of events won’t be tolerated.
We also urge the President, who has promised to combat hate crime, to confront these growing campaigns against the peaceful Indo-American community and India. We call upon the FBI to investigate this hate crime done to intimidate the Indian-American community.
