Sacramento, CA, October 13, 2025: The veto of California SB509 represents a decisive and proven breakthrough for equality, civil rights, and community safety. The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) commended Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision, noting its alignment with federal directives on Transnational Repression (TNR) and its emphasis on flexibility, fiscal prudence, and constitutional safeguards.
SB509, presented as a TNR measure, risked duplicating existing federal frameworks while expanding state authority in ways that were both vague and costly. CoHNA and allied civic organizations consistently raised concerns that the bill’s imprecise terminology could be weaponized, enabling powerful institutional actors to mischaracterize lawful advocacy by immigrant and diaspora communities. This clarity gap posed a disproportionate risk to communities with foreign roots who engage in protected speech and civic participation.
A central concern was the bill’s authorization for the Office of Emergency Services to train local law enforcement to identify “foreign proxies” without clearly defining the term or presenting evidence of such threats within California. In practice, residents speaking up for their communities—such as Hindus objecting to the vandalization of neighborhood mandirs—could be misread as agents of a foreign government. Similar risks would extend to Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, and other dharmic and immigrant communities whose cultural, religious, or humanitarian advocacy could be misconstrued as political influence.
Momentum against SB509 intensified as twenty-one Assembly Members abstained from voting and a broad, diverse coalition of organizations and leaders urged a veto. CoHNA acknowledged civic leaders such as Ajay Jain Bhutoria, interfaith allies, and elected officials who voiced professional concerns despite public pressure—an example of principled engagement that strengthens democratic institutions.
“For the past two years we have watched in horror as California lawmakers have ignored the real and rising anti-Hindu hate in the state—as documented by the state itself. They have ignored four vandalism attacks on Hindu temples and prioritized bills that further empower privileged groups at the expense of those that do not,” said Pushpita Prasad, CoHNA board member and longtime California resident who has been leading efforts to address temple vandalism and hate incidents. “We thank Governor Newsom for staying true to his promise of ‘California For All’. Now we must make sure that State institutions like POST also review and revise materials that were created with no input from diverse groups,” she added.
State reporting has charted a four-year increase in anti-Hindu hate, with the 2024 CA vs. Hate factsheet indicating levels second only to antisemitism. Between December 2023 and March 2025, repeated desecration of Hindu temples—often defaced under the guise of anti-India slogans—underscored a troubling pattern, with no arrests or prosecutions reported. These incidents have heightened community anxiety across dharmic traditions, which collectively affirm pluralism, nonviolence, and civic harmony.
Extremist narratives that conflate worshippers with foreign governments—affecting communities ranging from Indian-origin Hindus to those from the Caribbean—exacerbate fear and stigmatization. CoHNA and interfaith partners emphasized that SB509 risked lending legal weight to these presumptions, chilling constitutionally protected advocacy and community care. Ensuring that policy distinguishes between cultural or religious identity and state influence remains essential to protecting the shared civil liberties of Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, and all Californians.
CoHNA further urged lawmakers to prioritize equality and justice while directing taxpayer resources toward real, immediate needs. With southern California communities still recovering from wildfire devastation, adding complex, duplicative TNR training to an already strained Office of Emergency Services would have diverted attention and capacity from urgent public safety responsibilities.
The veto reflects months of community engagement: calls and letters to legislative offices, coalition-building across faiths, and multiple visits to Sacramento to testify in opposition. This civic process—rooted in respect, evidence, and dialogue—showcased a constructive path forward: cross-community solidarity among dharmic traditions and interfaith allies, collaborative policymaking with lawmakers, and a shared commitment to “California For All.”
CoHNA is a grassroots advocacy and civil rights organization dedicated to improving the understanding of Hinduism in North America by working on matters related to the Hindu community and by educating the public about Hindu heritage and tradition.
In sum, the veto of SB509 advances a careful, rights-centered approach to security while upholding pluralism. It protects diaspora communities from being mischaracterized as “foreign proxies,” reaffirms constitutional safeguards, and encourages collaboration that strengthens trust between communities and public institutions.
Inspired by this post on CoHNA.
