HPN Statement on the Racial Targeting of Indian-American Students in Frisco, Texas Hindu Parents Network is appalled to see ugly racial targeting of students in Texas. While there has been an increasing hostility against Hindu Americans and Americans of Indian ethnicity in Texas, the latest episode was triggered by the GOP railroad commission candidate who targeted a group of brown UT Austin students in the Longhorns’ football game. It was followed by the racial targeting of High School children who made it to the National Merit Semifinalists at Heritage High School in Frisco, Texas. In both cases, instead of celebrating the students for working hard and high academic achievement, students who are among the best in the country were dehumanized for the color of their skin. Dog-whistling for the worst of human tendencies, these posts unleashed toxic hate and vitriol, including calls for the students to be denaturalized and deported regardless of their citizenship. This kind of naked racism can never be justified in the name of immigration debate. Many of these students were born and raised in Texas, and Texas is the only home they know. Frisco ISD reported 120 National Merit Semifinalists district-wide this year, with 58% having attended Frisco schools for at least ten years and 55 enrolled since kindergarten or first grade. ([Frisco ISD][1]) Regardless of their citizenship, no child should have a target placed on them because of their skin color, ethnicity, religion, or perceived national origin. We are especially disturbed by posts attacking the students for their skin color/ ethnicity, questioning their belonging, using anti-Indian slurs, invoking Hindu religious identity as evidence of failed “assimilation,” and calling for the removal of children who are American citizens. More disturbing is the lack of unequivocal condemnation from the GOP leadership of their colleague and denouncement of such hateful rhetoric. Indian and Hindu Americans are part of the American story. They are students, teachers, soldiers, physicians, engineers, entrepreneurs, public servants, neighbors, and families helping build this country every day. Immigration policy can and should be debated on its merits. But that debate must never be weaponized to racialize, intimidate, or dehumanize children/university students. We call on @GregAbbott_TX, @GovAbbottPress @KenPaxtonTX, @Jon_RosenthalTX, @TexasGOP, @texasdemocrats, @LPTexas GOP leadership, community leaders, media voices, and public figures across the political spectrum to clearly reject all forms of racism and the targeting of children. Silence in the face of this kind of rhetoric is unacceptable. We evoke Dr Martin Luther King jr’s powerful words and hope for all American children to be judged for the content of their character and not the color of their skin. Additionally, we celebrate all hard-working, high-achieving American students regardless of their skin color, ethnicity, religion, or race because that is the quintessential American ideal. Hindu Parents Network [1]: friscoisd.org/article/313178… "Frisco ISD Athletes Among National Merit Semifinalists | FRISCO ISD"