CoHNA Welcomes Virginia's New Law Differentiating the Swastika from Hitler's Hakenkreuz

HB2783 was made possible by grassroots advocacy and marks a historic win for the civil rights of Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Native Americans, Zoroastrians and others

RICHMOND, Va., July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Virginia's House Bill 2783 goes into effect, criminalizing the display of Nazi symbols while also actively distinguishing Hitler's Hakenkreuz (Hooked Cross) from the sacred Swastika. This is a nuanced but critical distinction. CoHNA commends the legislation's use of the historically accurate term, 'Hakenkreuz'. This is a major step toward accurate representation and equitable treatment of the state's diverse minority groups, since the Swastika is an ancient and sacred symbol used by nearly two billion Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, and other communities across the world and here in Virginia.

The pioneering language of this Bill is the result of a concerted grassroots advocacy effort, led by CoHNA and various organizations. "We are pleased to see how Virginia is tackling growing hate while being sensitive to minority groups that revere the Swastika," said Nikunj Trivedi, President of CoHNA.

"Now the need of the hour is for the media, law enforcement, and educational institutions in Virginia to update their language to reflect this critical nuance and ensure fair treatment for all," he added.

Evolution of HB2783

In its original form, HB2783 had a critical cultural blind spot: conflating the Swastika with Nazi iconography. Crucial to note Hitler did not use the term 'Swastika'; he referred to his symbol of hate as 'Hakenkreuz', the German word for 'Hooked Cross'. The Bill also incorrectly implied that the Nazi emblem was "commonly known as the Swastika"—a wording that risks harm by implying that there is a 'good swastika' and a 'bad swastika'. Yet, despite this worrisome language, HB2783 had managed to unanimously sail through the Virginia House of Delegates (97-0).

This is when CoHNA sprang into action. Over one hectic weekend, CoHNA launched an education campaign, and motivated over 1,000 individuals to reach out to Virginia lawmakers with emails and calls. We partnered with community leaders, legal experts and interfaith allies to push for urgent amendments, even as the Bill reached the Senate with momentum stacked against change.

The  efforts of the community paid off with a significant rewrite in the weeks that followed. The Bill even got sent back by Governor Glenn Youngkin, who asked for inclusion of more important changes requested by the community, before signing it into the law that we see today.

• The term "Hakenkreuz" now takes precedence, followed by "Nazi symbol," and only after that does the Bill mention "Nazi Swastika"—a term that is still inaccurate but signals a positive step towards accuracy.
• "Commonly known as" has been changed to "sometimes referred to as"—a hard-won rejection of decades of casual conflation.
• The Bill explicitly states the "Nazi Swastika" is not the "Swastika, symbol of peace and prosperity used by Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, or Native American religions," shielding its sanctity in law.

CoHNA extends heartfelt gratitude to Senator Kannan Srinivasan and other key legislators whose swift support ensured that historical accuracy and religious respect prevailed. "By explicitly delineating the legal status of the Swastika, the statute not only condemns and prohibits its misuse as a symbol of hatred, but also affirms and honors its sacred meaning within Hinduism and other Dharmic traditions. In doing so, the Commonwealth of Virginia sets a precedent for a more informed, respectful, and inclusive civic discourse", said Srilekha Palle who is on the Board of Directors at the American Hindu Coalition.

Without community intervention, this Bill would have further erased the true meaning of the Swastika. We thank Hindu leaders like Rajiv Sharma of Americans4Hindus (A4H) and many others who worked in unity to secure these changes. As Virginia community leader and legal advisor for CoHNA Atchuthan Sriskandarajah said, "This legislation is a crucial step in combating hate without infringing on the religious rights of Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. It is a powerful example of how our community can come together to ensure our heritage is accurately represented and protected in the eyes of the law."

A Triumph for Civil Rights and Grassroots Community Advocacy

We have seen similar wins from grassroots action earlier in states like California. Similarly, in Canada, that country's oldest Jewish advocacy group, B'nai Brith, recently changed its terminology, switching to the term 'Hakenkreuz' while explicitly acknowledging that the Swastika is a sacred symbol that has been wrongfully maligned. Leading intellectuals like art director Steven Heller, the foremost authority in the United States on the history of graphic design, have also revised their position on this issue, and embraced a more historically accurate perspective.

These are big changes but the fight is not over. Misinformation still lingers, and CoHNA remains relentless in its mission to educate and advocate for accuracy.  Learn more at cohna.org/swastika.

About CoHNA
CoHNA is a grassroots level advocacy and civil rights organization dedicated to improving the understanding of Hinduism in North America by working on matters related to the Hindu community and by educating the public about Hindu heritage and tradition. For more information, please visit https://cohna.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and on Instagram.

SOURCE Coalition of Hindus of North America