Over the last few years, HAF has witnessed a nationwide rise in Hinduphobic incidents around the U.S, particularly within schools and on college campuses. In order to equip the students about their rights on the campus, HAF in collaboration with DoE organized two webinars last week to discuss different aspects of thriving as Hindu American students on campus.

Through the“Know Your Rights” webinar, HAF and attorneys from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) educated students about certain rights and the code of conduct when a student finds himself in tough situations. They focused on things like:

4 What you should do when you or someone you know faces Hinduphobia on campus

4 What role the U.S. Department of Education plays in safeguarding students

4 What Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is and how it protects Hindu students.

These informative webinars had live Q&A sessions that helped people bring out their concerns openly. HAF Executive Director, Suhag Shukla, Esq. and Education Director, Vijay Satnarine, Ph.D. were the key speakers who guided students in the best possible way. During the presentation, OCR staff also discussed recent real-world investigations and resolutions of harassment complaints based on ancestry and ethnic characteristics. The OCR stands ready to support schools, students and parents in ensuring every student’s right to learn without discrimination.

HAF believes that all students within our school communities have the right to learn in our nation’s schools free from discrimination. OCR wants schools, students, and parents to be vigilant in protecting students’ rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI)