Cārvāka Podcast: Bill C-9 and Cross-Community Responses to Hate
- ALCCA Staff
- Jan 21
- 1 min read
This week, ALCCA Chair Mark Sandler appeared as a guest on the very popular Cārvāka Podcast, hosted by Kushal Mehra, alongside Rishabh Sarswat of the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), a new member of ALCCA.
The discussion focused on Canada’s proposed Bill C-9, which seeks to strengthen hate crime laws, and examined the broader impact of hate-motivated activity on multiple vulnerable communities. Sandler emphasized the importance of cross-community and interfaith solidarity, noting that addressing antisemitism, anti-Hindu hate, and other forms of hatred requires shared advocacy, mutual understanding, and coordinated engagement with policymakers and law enforcement.
Watch the discussion below or on YouTube:
Sarswat kindly acknowledged the leadership role of ALCCA and its Chair in ensuring that the proposed legislation appropriately distinguished between the Nazi Hakenkreuz and the Swastika, which is used by millions of Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains, already resulting in bipartisan support.
ALCCA has also partnered with Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education (COHHE) on community impact statements in hate crime sentencing cases.
This coordination reflects a core principle of ALCCA’s work – that meaningful progress in combatting hate is strengthened when communities work together, recognize common challenges, and advance solutions grounded in collaboration and the rule of law.