Faith Leaders Rally in Las Vegas to Support Religious Freedom Bill

The gathering, organized by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), coincided with a concurrent push on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers and national organizations advocated for the bill’s passage. The proposed legislation aims to shield congregations from intimidation during services while maintaining First Amendment protections for peaceful expression.

Local speakers shared accounts of rising hostility across the religious landscape. Byron Brooks of the Jewish Federation noted a marked increase in antisemitism since October 7, while Farrah Acheson of the Nevada Muslim Caucus highlighted the parallel rise in Islamophobic attacks. Representing the Hindu and Jain communities, Pushpita Prasad and other advocates pointed to a series of recent vandalism incidents at Hindu temples as a primary catalyst for the legislative effort.

Nevada Assemblywoman Heidi Kasama joined representatives from the offices of Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen to hear the appeal. The coalition behind the bill now includes over 30 national organizations, ranging from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to the Islamic Society of North America. CoHNA’s director of government relations, Sudha Jaganathan, emphasized that the initiative is intended to secure a fundamental principle: the ability to congregate without fear. As the bill undergoes review by Nevada’s congressional delegation, supporters are calling for swift action to codify these protections at the federal level.