3 September 2026 (Navroze Bureau) : US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and a coalition of South Asian American lawmakers and elected officials have held a national roundtable at the US Capitol to address rising hate, discrimination and violence targeting South Asian communities across the United States.
The September 2 meeting brought together federal, state and local elected representatives, along with community organisations Indian American Impact and Stop AAPI Hate, to discuss ways to strengthen prevention, reporting and responses to hate crimes.
Krishnamoorthi Leads Call for Stronger Action
Krishnamoorthi said the meeting was aimed at confronting the rise in hate, harassment and violence affecting South Asian Americans.
He stressed that the issue was not only about protecting South Asian communities but also about ensuring that no American is made to feel that they do not belong because of their birthplace, religion or name.
Five Indian American Congress Members Participate
The roundtable included Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Ami Bera, Suhas Subramanyam and Shri Thanedar, alongside Krishnamoorthi.
South Asian elected officials from several states also participated, representing communities in North Carolina, New Jersey, Virginia, California, Michigan, Texas and Pennsylvania.
Focus on Hate, Harassment and Violence
Participants discussed the experiences of South Asian Americans, the factors contributing to anti-South Asian hate and ways to improve how incidents are prevented and reported.
The meeting also focused on strengthening government and community responses when hate incidents occur.
Stop AAPI Hate Highlights Harassment Concerns
The roundtable was convened with participation from Stop AAPI Hate, which has documented concerns about discrimination affecting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
Indian American Impact said the gathering comes amid heightened concern over anti-immigrant rhetoric and reported incidents targeting people because of their ethnicity, religion or national origin.
Hate Crimes Commission Act Discussed
Krishnamoorthi highlighted his Hate Crimes Commission Act, which he said could help examine the factors driving hate crimes and improve the accuracy of federal data.
The proposed approach seeks to better understand patterns behind hate and develop stronger mechanisms for preventing violence before it occurs.
Lawmakers Seek Better Reporting and Prevention
A major concern raised at the meeting was the need for more effective systems for reporting, preventing and responding to hate crimes.
Improved reporting can help authorities understand where and why incidents are occurring, while stronger prevention efforts could help communities respond before discrimination escalates into violence.
Community Leaders Join Policymakers
The meeting also brought together community organisations and elected officials, reflecting an effort to build a coordinated response rather than leaving individual communities to address incidents on their own.
Chintan Patel, executive director of Indian American Impact, and Manju Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, were among those involved.
Concerns Grow Amid Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric
Organisers said concerns about South Asian safety have increased alongside what they describe as escalating anti-immigrant rhetoric in the US.
They pointed to incidents involving Indian and other South Asian Americans as evidence of the need for stronger public awareness and institutional responses.
South Asian Representation in US Politics
The participation of lawmakers and elected officials from different levels of government also reflects the growing political representation of South Asian Americans in the United States.
Organisers said this representation makes it possible for officials from different regions to share experiences and develop common strategies for addressing discrimination.
A Broader Push for Community Safety
The roundtable represents a broader push by South Asian American leaders to make hate-crime prevention and community safety a national policy priority.
The discussions are expected to inform further legislative and community-level efforts aimed at improving prevention, reporting and enforcement.