CAPAC Leadership Statement on Mass Shooting Plot Targeting Indian Americans at Hindu Place of Worship
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the leadership of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) issued the following statement in response to reports of a mass shooting plot targeting Indian Americans at a Hindu place of worship in Aurora, Illinois:
“We are horrified that a white supremacist attempted to carry out a mass shooting targeting Indian Americans at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, where CAPAC Member Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and his family worship. The self-proclaimed Neo-Nazi allegedly fantasized about murdering Indian people, wrote a South Asian slur on a gas canister, and described Indian, Jewish, and African American people as ‘subhumans.’
“This plot exposes the very real danger white supremacist ideology poses to our communities and houses of worship, and it cannot be viewed in isolation. We are witnessing the normalization of hatred that has escalated into real-world threats and violence against Indian and South Asian communities. Anti-South Asian hate speech has surged by 240% on X alone over the past two years, driven in part by influential figures who amplify racist rhetoric, scapegoat immigrant communities, and allow bigotry and xenophobia to be pushed further into the mainstream. CAPAC has been sounding the alarm that such hatred is putting our communities in grave danger and that it must be taken seriously.
“We also cannot ignore the Trump administration’s role in peddling anti-South Asian hate. This includes appointing a man who said to “never trust a chinaman or Indian [sic],” posting white supremacist messaging on official government accounts, and echoing the Great Replacement Theory, a dangerous far-right ideology that has been referenced by extremists to justify mass shootings and acts of racial terror. At the same time, the administration has weakened efforts to combat domestic terrorism by cutting FBI staff tasked with monitoring threats posed by white supremacists and militia groups.
“No one should have to fear for their safety simply because of who they are or where they worship. We thank the suspect’s coworkers who alerted authorities and commend the law enforcement officers who helped thwart the attack. It is incumbent upon all of us to call out the extremism that puts our communities at risk. We must never allow the cancers of anti-South Asian hate, religious bigotry, and white supremacy to take root in our country.”
The statement was signed by CAPAC Chair Grace Meng (NY-06), First Vice Chair Mark Takano (CA-39), Second Vice Chair Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Whip Ami Bera (CA-06), Freshman Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), and Chair Emerita Judy Chu (CA-28).
###