KENT, WASHINGTON STATE USA, March 4, 2015 (by Kipp Robertson, Mynorthwest): When the priest of the Sanatan Dharma Temple in Kent arrived Feb. 27, glass was shattered everywhere. The word “fear” was spray painted on an outside wall of the temple.It was the second Hindu temple hit by vandalism in less than two weeks. The vandalism is going to cost the temple an estimated $10,000. Temple members are still talking with insurance companies, said Thakor.
The vandalism of the Kent temple follows that of a temple in Bothell. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is investigating hate graffiti left on that temple, which included the spray-painted words “get out” and a swastika. The FBI is pursuing a “parallel” investigation into the Bothell incident, according to FBI Media Coordinator Ayn Dietrich-Williams. If evidence during the investigation proves “substantial,” to build a federal criminal case, the FBI will become more active, she said.
“We all need to get over the fear, I’m sure the community will help us, because nobody wants to see this happen,” said Thakor.