MacDonell on Foiled Hindu Temple Shooting Plot: A House of Worship Should Never Be a Place of Fear
Press Statement | Rep. Sharon MacDonell
TROY, Mich., Oct. 16, 2026 — Following the arrest of a 19-year-old man accused of plotting a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Ill., state Rep. Sharon MacDonell (D-Troy) issued the following statement:
“I am angered and saddened by the attempted mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Illinois earlier this week. Thankfully, it was thwarted and no one was hurt, but news of this planned attack has left many Michigan residents feeling scared and targeted.
“Let me be clear: religious bigotry and racism, including anti-Hindu and anti-Indian prejudice, are unacceptable in all their forms. I want the Hindu and Indian American members of our community to know that I care about your safety and will defend your right to live your lives and practice your faith in peace.
“No one should be made to feel unsafe because of their racial, religious or national background. This is why I am a strong advocate for religious pluralism and gun violence prevention as a member of the Michigan State House. America belongs to all of us, and we must come together to reject white supremacy.”
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