New York: Turning Point USA correspondent Savannah Hernandez’s video on X (formerly Twitter) from the Karya Siddhi Hanuman temple in Frisco, Texas highlighting 72-foot tall idol, people praying for “work visas” and located in a residential area amplifying anti-immigrants, anti-Indians voices and drawing flak for targeting a religious site.
"I kept hearing about how massive the Indian population is in North Texas so I went to go check it out for myself. Found a 72-foot tall Hindu temple, built in honor of a monkey-god, where inside people were praying for blessings for “job visas”" she wrote in the caption.
In the video, Hernandez claimed she had been hearing from a lot of Texans about the "changing" culture and demographic in northern Texas. She described the temple as “very large” and “intricate”, noting that it was located within a residential area, something people would not expect.
She also pointed out common temple practices, such as removing footwear before entering, which resulted in a number of visitors walking barefoot in the premises. She observed that devotees were worshipping multiple deities, which is typical in Hindu places of worship.
"What stuck out to me was the area where people were going to pray for blessings of health and work visas," she said while recounting how the demographic of the area had changed in the past years.
"So this is the way the culture has been changing over here. There are multiple Hindu temples in the Fort-Worth area. On top of that, you have a baseball field that has been converted into a cricket field," she claimed. Overlooking some men playing cricket in the nearby field, Hernandez said it was the first time she had ever seen that in Texas and also recounted how Holi had been celebrated in the city. She ended the video by calling it "pretty crazy" to see such a large and intricate temple in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
The video incited the anti-Indian netizens to rage on the community and call for their deportation. "We must be confident enough in our own culture and religion to say no. Americans are better, Christianity is better, we must send foreigners home along with their false demons," wrote one user on X.
"Texas is being conquered by both Muslims AND Indians thanks to the Texas GOP. An explosion of mosques and now an Indian temple honoring a monkey god. This literally looks like you’re in a foreign country but it’s Texas…. Immigration is destroying America" claimed another.
Hernandez's video also received massive criticism online as she ventured into a religious space to report for her anti-Indian agenda.
"Ms. Hernandez, please work on illegal immigrants from your culture raping and robbing people in Texas rather than hard-working & law abiding successful Indians contributing to the economy keeping people like you employed," slammed one user on X.
"I am not sure that 'Savanah Hernandez' is aware that white right-wingers don't consider her to be white, American, or welcome" added another.
