Standing with Truth: A Rallying Cry for Peace and Justice at Columbia

In a speech on Sunday at the Columbia University encampment, Sunita Viswanath, Executive Director of Hindus for Human Rights, shared her recent experiences visiting North American campuses with her teenage son. Her journey illuminated the broad range of widespread student-led activism advocating for a ceasefire. Amidst these teach-ins and peaceful protests—remarkably inclusive even under the shadow of potential university sanctions and police brutality—Viswanath's speech underscored a vital Hindu perspective on the global struggle for truth, justice, and peace.

As Viswanath spoke, she highlighted not only the solidarity found in these student movements, many led by Jewish students, but also the urgent call to action against the backdrop of ongoing violence in Gaza. The address was a clarion call to Hindus and allies alike to reject ideologies of hate and to champion a world rooted in inclusive, secular democracy. Her speech was a potent reminder of the moral imperatives dictated by Hindu faith—Satya (truth), Nyaya (justice), and Shanti (peace)—principles that guide HfHr’s advocacy against a devastating genocide and towards a future where peace is built on the foundation of unwavering justice.