Hindu Temple; and
WHEREAS, In 1986, the name of the temple was changed from
Hindu Temple to Hindu Jain Temple operated by the Hindu Temple
Society of North America, Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, In September 1990, the construction work was
completed on the gurdwara, a Sikh center of worship; and
WHEREAS, Hindu Jain Temple, the first unified Hindu Jain
Temple in North America, is a unique example of understanding,
tolerance and appreciation of diverse religious practices and
traditions; and
WHEREAS, For children and generations to come, the gurdwara
is a link to Sikh roots and a symbol of great Hindu heritage;
and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's Sikh community endeavors to enhance
understanding and respect among people of different religions by
leading and participating in interfaith thanksgiving prayers at
various places of worship and inviting various faith leaders and
members of their congregations to gurdwaras; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania stands with the Sikh community in
denouncing hate crimes directed toward any individual based on
their religious beliefs; and
WHEREAS, Since September 11, 2001, Sikhs are often mistaken
for Taliban members or followers of Al Qaeda because of the
commonality of their beards and turbans, and are subjected to a
disproportionately high rate of hate crimes; and
WHEREAS, The Sikh-American community continues to peacefully
overcome attacks on its identity and practices, whether in the
form of school harassment, employment discrimination or fatal
shootings, including the 1984 Sikh Massacre where thousands of
individuals were killed in India, the murders of six Sikhs
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