Community Members Come Together to Paint Hindu Temple Vandalized By Hate Messages in Kentucky

Community members of all faiths in Louisville, Kentucky, joined hands to “paint away the hate” at a vandalized Swaminarayan Temple and showed support for the Hindu community.

The incident occurred after the service on January 27, when a 17-year-old boy spray-painted “messages of hate” across the walls of the Swaminarayan Temple on Bardstown Road, Mayor Greg Fischer said, according to WLKY.

However, the vandalism wasn’t discovered until Tuesday morning when a repairman arrived.

More than 100 people gathered at the temple on Saturday to spread a message of love.

“What you saw here today was a lot of strength,” Rep. Nima Kulkarni said. “You saw a lot of compassion, and you saw a lot of community feeling and support.”

People of all religions, including Christians, Muslims and Hindus, worked together to paint over the vandalism. People wrote messages of love to those who attend the temple.

“I think an event like this can be good because it shows people of different faith and people of no faith can still respect one another,” Ben Johnson, an attendee, said. “(I) can still respect your right to believe what you want to believe. I don’t have to agree with it, and we need to have more open, honest dialogue.”

The teenage culprit is being charged with first-degree criminal mischief and third-degree burglary.

Featured Image Screenshot via YouTube / LEX18 News

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