Senator Cooney Statement on Attempted Mass Shooting at Hindu Temple Targeting Indian Americans
October 15, 2026
Senator Cooney was the First Asian American Elected Official Outside of the Metro New York City and is the Only Indian American Member of the State Senate
“As a proud Indian American state leader, let me be very clear: Anti-Indian hate has no place in New York or any place in our nation. Anti-South Asian hate speech on social media has spiked 240 percent since January 2024. Whether it’s physical violence, online harassment, or vandalism of religious spaces, there must be zero-tolerance. Full stop.
I’m saddened to learn of the attempted mass shooting incident targeting a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, and am grateful for the swift action by law enforcement that prevented a tragedy. We must continue to condemn hate crimes of any kind, and I will never stop fighting to keep our communities safe.”
