Indian-American lawmaker Thanedar’s community centre vandalised with pro-Palestine graffiti

PRO-PALESTINE protesters were suspected to have defaced the community centre of Indian-origin US Congressman Shri Thanedar in Detroit with graffiti -- painting an “X” across his photograph and words such as "racist", "ceasefire" and "Free Palestine" on its wall.

The incident comes after the politician took a pro-Israel stance after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack Israel on October 7 last year. It also took place at a time when pro-Palestine protests were spreading across universities in the US. Several protesting students have faced the law-enforcement's wrath as a result. 

A police complaint was filed over the defacement, sources in Thanedar’s office said.

Read: Muslim leaders stress unity as Gaza war exposes faultlines among Britons

The Congressman, who is seeking re-election from Michigan this year, reacted saying it was neither an "isolated incident" nor a "productive form of communication" and that such acts only lead to fear and polarisation at a time when open conversation and discourse are required. 

The lawmaker also said that he has dealt with other "unproductive forms of protests" and that included a violent one at a holiday party in December last year and another witnessing protests at his residence at 3 am. He said those incidents only saw people ending up in the hospital and his loved ones feeling insecure in their own houses.

Thanedar said he is always open to productive and respectful dialogue and doesn't support such acts of vandalism.

Read: Indian-origin student at Princeton arrested, barred for taking part in anti-Israel protests

Last December, Thanedar claimed that one of his social media accounts was hacked and anti-Israel posts were made from it.

"I was just hacked, and a misleading tweet was sent from my account," Thanedar had said on X. "I have deleted the tweet and taken steps to secure my account."

Als with the post, he shared his official statement on Israel, wherein he said the United States "unwavering commitment to Israel's security is grounded in shared values and a longstanding partnership" and that he hopes the conflict ends soon.

He was also heckled by protesters gathered outside his residents when he decided to leave the Democratic Socialists of America for not condemning Hamas's violence.

After the attacks of October, Thanedar wrote on his website, "In this time of great international uncertainty, it is now more important than ever before to reaffirm as a people, and as a nation, our unequivocal support for the state of Israel, the lone Democracy in the Middle East and one of our closest, and strongest, allies across the globe."

Disgruntled pro-Palestinian protestors queued up with their cars around the premises and blamed him for his "silence" on the treatment of Palestinians. 

The protestors were heard saying, "You are complicit in the bombing of Gaza. Your silence is violence. Your silence is abhorrent, and we will not let you sleep!"

The US lawmaker has also been vocal about growing attacks on Hindus in the US. He recently joined some other Hindu leaders who raised their concerns over the matter.