Hindus for Human Rights Stands Firm After Walking Out on VP Kamala Harris at IA Impact Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HfHR Responds Powerfully to Criticism Following Walking Out on Vice President Harris during the Indian American Impact Project’s 2024 Summit and Gala: Desis Decide

Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) stands unwaveringly in our commitment to human rights, justice, and the fight against all forms of oppression. Today's incident, where our representatives walked out on the Vice President during the IA Impact Summit, demonstrated our steadfast belief in speaking truth to power.

 Some critics of our actions have suggested,  when organizations tell you who they are, listen to them.This is a paraphrase of a well-known Maya Angelou quote, and we would suggest that those citing Dr. Angelou's work delve deeper into her work  to understand what she would have to say about Gaza. 

We are proud to tell you exactly who we are: a faith-based, anti-genocide organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights for all. Our actions are deeply rooted in our Hindu faith, which calls for dharma (justice), karuna (compassion), and satyagraha (resistance against oppression). 

Our tradition of speaking out against injustice is part of a long and proud political movement inspired by figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who used their faith as a foundation for social and political activism. Just as they fought for the rights and dignity of all people, we too fight against the ongoing genocide in Gaza and elsewhere.

Our presence at the summit, our participation in protests, encampments, and our willingness to get arrested for our beliefs reflect our dedication to these principles. Our walkout was a direct expression of our conviction and pain over these issues. We believe it is our moral duty to hold government officials accountable, no matter the platform. That is the essence of democracy.

HfHR is proud to be part of a larger democratic movement both in the United States and globally. We stand in solidarity with all those who fight against oppression, discrimination, and violence. We will continue to voice our beliefs and convictions, and we will not be silenced. Thank you for listening to who we are. We invite you to join us in our fight for a more just and humane world.

For further comments, interview requests, or to obtain additional information, please contact:

David Kalal, david@hindusforhumanrights.org