WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — A group of South Asian advocacy groups and Washington lawmakers held a vigil on the Capitol steps Friday to speak out against the racially motivated crimes that are taking place across the country, like the Kansas triple-shooting that left Srinivas Kuchibhotla dead and two others injured.
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), a national South Asian civil rights organization, and similar groups took part in the vigil. They gathered outside the Capitol to have their voices heard, with the nation’s highest court in front of their eyes just across the street.
Rajdeep Singh Jolly, Interim Managing Director of Programs, Sikh Coalition who spoke at the vigil said: “As we remember Srinivas Kuchibhotla and all those who have lost their lives and loved ones to hate, we demand that the White House create a federal task force to prevent hate violence. Words are not enough. We need accountability and action.”
SAALT executive director Suman Raghunathan said, “We need real leadership from Washington to stem the tide of injustice.”
“Waiting nearly a week before commenting on a deadly shooting in Kansas won’t do it,” she said referring to President Donald Trump’s late reaction to the killing of Srinivas Kuchibhotla.
Members of Congress who joined the vigil included Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY), and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA). Partner organizations at the event included the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Arab American Institute, Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Sikh American Legal Defense & Education Fund and many others.
“The attack in Kansas did send a shiver down my spine, because I know that this is something that unfortunately has developed because of hate rhetoric and hate speech that developed during the campaign and has continued afterwards,” Rep. Joe Crowley said.
