A Celebration of Love, Light, and Hope:
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Hindus for Human Rights Hosts Diwali on Capitol Hill
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On Tuesday, November 12th, Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) hosted its annual Diwali celebration on Capitol Hill, bringing together community members, faith leaders, and lawmakers for an evening that radiated hope, unity, and the spirit of Diwali. This year's event held a special significance, as it came just days after the U.S. election—a crucial political moment that reminded us of the importance of gathering in solidarity and recommitting to the values of justice, democracy, and human rights.
The night was packed with a lively program featuring speeches from Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ben Cline (pictured above), prayers from both Hindu and Sikh faith leaders, a Nepali Tihar performance, and more. Check out our full recap of the event below! |
Hindus for Human Rights 2024 Winter Gala |
Please join us for the annual Hindus for Human Rights Virtual Gala featuring incredible performers, musicians, comedians, and our Swami Agnivesh Memorial Awardees.
2024 has been a year of incredible growth and success for us at Hindus for Human Rights. Join us to celebrate wins and look into the future! |
Tell Congress to Oppose H.R. 9495
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The House previously passed H.R. 6408 with very little opposition, a bill that could give a future President unprecedented power to target and shut down nonprofits and activist student groups.
The legislation intended to target and strip the tax-exempt status of organizations advocating for Palestinian human rights -- such as Hindus for Human Rights. The Senate refused to take it up after tens of thousands of our members sent letters to Congress urging opposition.
But now, House Members are attempting to pass a different bill (H.R. 9495) that includes the legislative language of H.R. 6408, which would be disastrous for all of our organizations working towards a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the occupation.
Tell your Member of Congress to protect the right to dissent and oppose H.R. 9495 and any other legislation targeting our organizations for advocating for Palestinian human rights. |
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Urge Congress to Block Weapons Sales to Israel!
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URGENT CALL TO ACTION: We have a narrow window to block $20 billion in weapons to Israel!
In just a few weeks, the Senate will vote on six Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) that have been introduced to block a $20 billion arms deal which the Biden Administration approved to fuel Israel’s genocide against Palestinians. As Hindu Americans, now is our chance to say: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! ARMS EMBARGO NOW!
Check out the link below to email your members of Congress and tell them to vote YES on all six JRDs and demand an #ArmsEmbargoNow! |
A Closing Prayer for Resilience and Solidarity |
Last Friday, our Executive Director, Sunita Viswanath, offered a powerful closing prayer at the Faith in Public Life event, held in partnership with the Election Sabotage Response Network (ESRN) and Protect Democracy. The gathering brought together faith leaders from across the nation to reflect, pray, and prepare for the road ahead after Election Day.
Sunita's heartfelt words called for resilience, unity, and the strength to confront challenges regardless of the election outcome. We invite you to watch the prayer video, absorb its message, and feel the warmth of our shared commitment to justice and peace.
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HfHR- ANZ: Celebrating Diwali and Diversity at Museum of Contemporary Art Australia |
Hindus for Human Rights is honored that our Australia and New Zealand branch was invited to the Diwali Celebration Event Hosted by Multicultural NSW. On November 5th, our Australia Board Member, Sangeetha Govindarajan, represented us and our progressive values at the Museum of Contemporary Art, and joined in a celebration of light that brought together prominent leaders and members of Australia’s multicultural community. |
HfHR Hosts Our First Ever Philadelphia Meet-Up!
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This past Saturday, our Board Member, Ramya Devan, and our Communications and Outreach Associate, Faria Rehman, hosted Philadelphia's first ever Hindus for Human Rights meet-up at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Germantown. Following the disheartening U.S. election results, our meet-up provided a space for community, sharing, connection, and organizing, as we brainstormed ideas on how to give back to our local Philadelphia community as well as how to spread our ideals of progressivism, anti-caste, liberatory Hinduism, and human rights throughout the greater Pennsylvania region.
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Head Over to The Metrograph for a Screening of The World is Family |
Anand Patwardhan, one of the most acclaimed and accomplished of contemporary Indian nonfiction filmmakers explores his families’ links—on both the paternal and maternal sides—to his country’s anti-colonial independence movement in this cinematic oral history filmed over the course of three decades.
Variety has called this film “A deeply affecting, immensely powerful cinematic lamentation of lost stories and details.”, and its influence reigns wide as buzz surrounds the film as we approach the Oscar awards season. This film is a must watch -- if you're in the NYC area on Saturday, November 23rd, make sure to swing by the Metrograph. |
LAST WEEK: Order Your HfHR 2025 Calendar TODAY! |
The 2025 Hindus for Human Rights calendar showcases original artwork inspired by Hindu deities and saints cherished by immigrant, refugee, and diaspora communities. It celebrates the rich diversity of Hindu traditions across history and the globe. If you're already an HfHR member and would like more, we offer additional calendars at a reduced cost. |
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"As Hindus for Human Rights, we are especially concerned about the implications of Trump’s election for the future of human rights and justice in South Asia and its diasporas. Under the previous Trump administration, India’s Hindu supremacist government under Narendra Modi was gleefully heralded in its pursuit of a hateful, fascist agenda... Indian Americans have received a clear message: Trump will not stop Modi from repressing the fundamental rights of Indian Americans," writes Pranay Somayajula for Indica News.
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| Hindus for Human Rights is a part of a group that released a joint report investigating how Meta platforms have become a breeding ground for political disinformation in India, with the BJP spending over Rs 2.25 crore in just three months on political advertisements in Jharkhand. These Meta ads were explicitly Islamophobic in nature, and targeted Chief Minister Hemant Soren's Adivasi identity. |
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Jacob Sajan, one of the winners of our Student Art and Essay Contest, shares his views on the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi as a leader of nonviolent movements in this insightful essay published by American Kahani. |
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| Denying Dalit devotees the right to worship is a gross violation of the sacred teaching that the divine resides equally and inherently in all living beings. As Hindus for Human Rights, we stand for an anti-caste Hinduism that is welcoming and inclusive to all. |
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Become an HfHR Member Today! |
An HfHR membership gives you access to a community of progressive, change-oriented Hindus, our exclusive WhatsApp community, affinity groups, weekly community calls, merch discounts, local organizing groups, and more. Join today! |
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The HfHR weekly digest serves as your weekly guide to progressive Hindu advocacy. Find things you can do to take action, articles to read, podcast episodes to listen to, and more!
*Note: Readings are curated from a diverse range of sources and do not necessarily represent the views of HfHR.
Let us know what you think of our weekly digest! If you have ideas for news items you want to see included, or suggestions for action items or articles to highlight, let us know via the button below. |
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