Krishnamoorthi urges FBI to investigate Aurora Hindu temple plot as hate crime
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and more than 100 other members of Congress are urging the FBI to investigate an attempted mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora last week as a federal hate crime.
The Schaumburg Democrat, who was at the temple with his family the day of the failed attack, also wants FBI Director Kash Patel to answer questions about the bureau’s efforts to identify and address threats targeting Indian-Americans and other South Asian communities, as well as Hindus.
“No one should fear being targeted because of their ancestry, appearance, or faith, and no congregation should have to wonder whether gathering for worship will make its members targets of mass violence,” a letter to Patel signed by 105 members of Congress, including the entire Illinois Democratic delegation, reads.
“We urge the FBI to investigate the evidence fully, pursue all applicable offenses, and provide affected communities with a clear account of the steps being taken to protect them.”
Cook County prosecutors say Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine, attempted to carry out a shooting at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) temple on Oct. 11, but his rifle jammed.
He left and told a co-worker about his plans to return, authorities said. That co-worker alerted police, who arrested Paporakis later that night. He now is in custody at the Cook County jail awaiting trial on charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Authorities say Paporakis wrote an eight-page manifesto expressing white supremacist views and describing violence against people of Indian descent at a Hindu place of worship. Authorities say they found a rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, body armor and a patch with white supremacist imagery at his home.
“The alleged combination of targeted racial hatred, a religious setting, and preparations for mass violence demands a comprehensive federal response,” the lawmakers write in their letter to the FBI. “We appreciate the FBI’s reported assistance to local investigators and urge the Bureau to ensure that potential hate-crime violations receive explicit attention.”
The lawmakers are seeking information on whether the FBI is examining potential racial, ethnic, and religious bias in the Aurora case, whether online platforms or other individuals facilitated the alleged plot, and what steps the FBI is taking to protect houses of worship and address credible threats without infringing on First Amendment protections.
They want a written reply by Oct. 29.
The letter also criticizes the Trump administration over messaging that they believe validates racial and religious stereotypes. That includes a Department of Homeland Security poster depicting a Sikh man with the message “Get off our roads, you don’t know how to drive Mr. Singh,” and that the Department of Education social media post declaring “Make College Football Great Again” after a Texas Republican complained about South Asians attending a University of Texas football game.
“Federal agencies should make clear that debates over immigration or public safety never justify collective suspicion of Indian, Sikh, Hindu, or other South Asian communities,” the letter states.
ssarkauskas@dailyherald.com