Indian American Community Unites Online to Denounce Anti-Israel Protestor's Threats at City Council Meeting
ICARO Media Group
An anti-Israel protestor, Riddhi Patel, faced swift backlash from the Indian American community and internet users alike after making threatening remarks towards officials at a Bakersfield City Council meeting. The incident occurred on Wednesday, April 10, and Patel's remarks quickly garnered attention for their controversial nature.
During the public remarks portion of the council meeting, Patel took the podium and delivered menacing threats, stating that she would go to the officials' homes and "murder" them. Her alarming tirade came in response to heightened security measures implemented in order to control anti-Israel protests.
Patel, a 28-year-old woman of Indian origin, referenced Mahatma Gandhi and the Chaitra Navrati festivities while issuing her hostile claims. However, the internet community did not take kindly to her words and swiftly condemned her for invoking revered references while making threats of violence against Bakersfield leaders.
The Hindu American Foundation expressed outrage over Patel's actions in a tweet, calling out her invocation of Gandhi and Chaitra Navratri while threatening to murder city council members. They condemned the escalation of anti-Semitic rhetoric from anti-Israel demonstrations into terroristic threats and called for it to stop.
Asha Jadeja Motwani, an Indian American associated with the Motwani Jadeja Foundation, also spoke out against Patel, accusing her of being a "hinduphobe." In a tweet, Motwani highlighted Patel's history of ranting against Hindus and criticized her for aligning with a playbook that blames Jews, Asians, and white people for various issues.
The Hindu Post, in a lengthy tweet tirade, criticized Patel's lack of discernment and accused her of being driven by leftist ideologies. They also unearthed an old Facebook post of Patel's in which she openly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused him of promoting "Hindu Fascism."
Comments under these tweets sparked heated debates, with many condemning Patel for her actions. Some individuals expressed concern that her behavior would reflect poorly on the entire Indian community, while others blamed "wokeness" for her actions and called for her punishment.
Patel now faces 18 felony charges, with 10 counts related to her intent to terrorize and 8 charges for threatening city officials. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the impact it has on communities worldwide.
Overall, the Indian American community and the internet at large joined forces to denounce Riddhi Patel's threatening remarks at the Bakersfield City Council meeting. The backlash she received highlights the importance of responsible discourse and the rejection of violence in public forums.