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Kamala Harris urges Indian-Americans to increase political participation at Desis Decide summit
She noted an increase in participation by Indian-Americans in the electoral process running for office.
Kamala Harris spoke at the 'Desis Decide' summit held by the Indian-American Impact organization. / Courtesy Photo
US Vice President Kamala Harris urged more Indian-Americans to take part in the electoral process of the United States at an annual summit titled 'Desis Decide' on May.15, adding that the community's representation was not reflective of the growing population.
"Over the years, we've had so much more participation by Indian Americans in the electoral process running for office. But the numbers are still not reflective of the size of the growing population. And therefore what will happen, invariably it's happened to all of us, is you are going to find yourself invariably in rooms where you are the only one who looks like you, the only one who has had your life experience," Harris said at the event held by the Indian-American Impact organization, a Democratic think-tank.
There are currently five elected Indian-American members in the US Congress — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Dr Ami Bera, Shri Thanedar and Pramila Jayapal. The Impact organization projects Indian-American strength in the Congress to increase to 10 members in 2024.
In the opening remarks of her speech, Harris acknowledged the work done by Impact but again persuaded more Indian-Americans to run for office.
"It really is extraordinary. I wanted to stop by to thank of course the organization for everything and for all that it represents, but also to say especially to those who have run for office or aspire to run for office, that you must run," the Vice President said.
"You must know that you are not alone. There is so much that we still have to do as a country and a lot of the work that we each do, which is why we are here together, is born out of a belief in the promise of America. And dare I say that, I am empirical evidence of the promise of America," she added.
Going so far as to ask members of the audience to raise their hands if they were planning to contest the elections, Harris said: "This election coming up in six months, I think is presenting a question to each of us. Which is, what kind of world do we want to live in and what kind of country do we want to live in? And one of the ways that we answer that question is to seek office and to participate in elections knowing that the outcome of those elections matter in fundamental ways."
The Vice President also spoke about how her mother first arrived in the US in the 1950s and then participated in the civil rights movement, adding that her mom was only 19 years old when she marched for civil rights in Berkeley.
The first female US Vice President and also the first belonging to Asian-American, Asian African heritage, Harris had made similar remarks at a health forum discussion held for the Asian-American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander organizations on May.13.
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Comments
Sam Patel
2024-05-16 00:00:00
Kamala Harris always identified herself as BLACK and not American until she got to Washington where her party needs the Indian money and support. Look back at her earlier days. Went to a BLACK school when she could have studied in better schools in California. Pretty much ZERO interactions with the Indian community while a lawyer and in government service. She even found a BLACK politician to sleep with.