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Salman Rushdie headlines South Asian Men for Harris virtual launch
Several elected leaders from throughout the US joined the call to voice their support for the Democratic candidate.
Salman Rushdie / ImageCourtesy: YouTube screengrab
SAN FRANCISCO, California — Celebrated Indian-American author Salman Rushdie headlined the virtual launch of South Asian Men for Harris on July 27 morning, handily predicting that presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris would win her race by a landslide.
“There is absolutely no reason why Kamala Harris should not win and actually win it quite handily,” said the acclaimed novelist, who survived a nearly fatal stabbing 2 years ago at a reading in Chautauqua, New York.
Rushdie has written about the incident in “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder,” released by Penguin Random House in April. His suspected attacker, Hadi Matar, is scheduled to appear for trial beginning Sept. 9. Matar remains in Chautauqua County Jail, where he is being held without bail.
“Something very extraordinary has happened in American politics in just under a week. The conversation has entirely changed with the arrival of Kamala Harris's candidacy, in a kind of joyful way, a way of optimism and positive forward-thinking,” said Rushdie. He characterized Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump as a “hollow man without a single noble quality, trying to drag this country towards authoritarianism.”
In the six days since she announced her candidacy — immediately following Joe Biden’s announcement that he would not seek a second term — Harris has raised over $200 million, according to her campaign, which noted that over two-thirds of her financial supporters are first-time donors. The campaign has also gained more than 170,000 volunteers to help with phone banking, canvassing, and other get-out-the-vote efforts. Several similar virtual gatherings throughout the week have helped the fledgling campaign quickly find its wings to soar.
The South Asian Men for Harris call also featured writer Wahajat Ali, Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, and several elected leaders from around the US. The call was organized by Sree Srinivasan, founder and current president of the South Asian Journalists Association; historian Manu Bhagavan; and social media consultant Neil Parekh.
Amid the many hurrahs for Harris came a clarion call from comedian Aasif Mandvi, who expressed the concerns of many progressive Democrats regarding the Biden Administration’s support of Israel, amid its months-long war with Hamas.
“I'm conflicted about my views and articulating my unwavering support,” said the comedian. “I have felt tremendous rage and grief about the Biden administration's support and funding of Israel and their ongoing war crimes and atrocities in Gaza.”
Mandvi said he wants to see Harris call for an arms embargo on Israel, noting that US weapons are being used to commit war crimes, in violation of the country’s laws as well as international law.
“Let's not do this just because we want to see a desi aunty in the White House. Let's also insist that she hears us, that her campaign hears us on the crucial, critical issues,” said Mandvi.
“Our freedoms are on the line,” said Krishnamoorthi. He called for a country that expands the circle of economic inclusion, so that “everyone is taking the up escalator of this economy.” “In Kamala Harris, we see a future-forward. On the other side is a man wanting to settle past grievances'.
“I’ve never seen excitement like this in our community and Harris has earned it,” said Khanna. “We have a very clear case against Donald Trump,” he said, noting the Biden-Harris administration’s many accomplishments, which include the $55 billion infrastructure bill that would create an estimated 15 million jobs over the next 10 years.
Khanna also lauded the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act, a public-private partnership to bring semiconductor chip manufacturing back to the US. “Harris is going to offer real solutions to the economic anxiety many Americans are facing,” said Khanna.
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