Stop Hindu Temple Construction Near Drauden Road, Resident Tells Joliet City Council

JOLIET, IL — A young man named Brandon Perez spoke during the public comment section of Tuesday night's Joliet City Council meeting imploring his elected officials to stop a Hindu Temple from being built near Caton Farm Road and Drauden Road.

"I have a proposal for a park to be built," Perez explained. "But before I give this speech, I just want to let the City Council know that I love everyone regardless of their color. That's how my parents taught me. Race, religion, belief doesn't matter. I say this speech with love and compassion, so I just want to let you guys know that before I speak."

Perez then went on to explain "I would like to offer you my opinion about a property being built near my house that property being the future site of the Sri Ayyappa Swami Temple. I have previously spoke with the City Council and leaders of Plainfield concerning the construction of the temple being built on the corner of S. Drauden Road and Caton Farm Road, right across the CVS (Pharmacy). After speaking to them about my alternative proposal for a park instead, they told me to speak to you, the City Council, and leaders of Joliet.

"Since the future construction of the temple affects both the city of Joliet and Plainfield, I would share with you just a few demographics why building the temple wouldn't be the best idea in the long run since the temple only caters to a small amount of people."

Perez told the Joliet Council "my idea is to build a community park for everyone, not just those that identify as Hindu can come together and enjoy outdoor activity. While people do have the freedom of religion under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, I strongly believe that my idea for building a community park featuring many entertainments, fun amenities and physical exercise will benefit the people of Joliet and Plainfield more positively than a temple that only caters to a small fraction of the population."

In closing, Perez presented Joliet with the following demographics of their city: "As of 2025, the largest racial group in Joliet is white-European with a population of 52 percent. While the rest of the population of Joliet includes 33 percent Hispanic, 16 percent African-American and 2 percent which are Asian, and the remaining ... which are American Indian and Alaskan native. As for the city of Plainfield ... as of 2025, approximately 9.3 percent of the population identifies as Asian alone. The percent of people that identifies as American Indian and Alaska native in Plainfield is 0.2 percent. With all these demographics being shared with you, most people who practice a Hindu religion are of Asian and Indian descent. If approximately 72 percent of the population in Illinois is white, and approximately 52 percent of the population in Joliet is white/European, why do we need a Hindu temple being built on a large vacant land when only a small fraction of the population will be going to that temple?

"To put this in perspective, if you combine the population of Joliet and Plainfield that equals to about 200,000 residents. Out of those 200,000 residents, only less than 1 percent are going to be attending that temple. To put this in perspective, it's like putting the Jewish synagogue in the middle of a predominately African-American neighborhood. How many people would that attract? Not many."