No to SB 403: The voice of the peaceful Hindus heard loud and clear!
In a very peaceful protest, around 200-250 people gathered in front of Senator Aisha Wahab‘s office for a ‘peaceful petition rally’. No slogans or shouting. Just Americans standing in front of their representative’s office asking to be heard.
After the peace rally, close to 100+ people went to speak at Fremont City Hall to make their concerns heard. Senator Wahab’s office is located in Fremont, as were many of the folks who came for the rally.
Today, the peaceful Hindu voice was heard loud and clear.
Harsh Singh, Fremont Resident, and Tech Worker
I have lived in this wonderful city and state for over 25 years. I love its embrace of diversity and voted to elect Senator Wahab last year, inspired by her progressive ideals. And that’s why I am so disappointed by SB 403, which goes against the fundamental principles of equality and justice for all regardless of your race, religion, and ancestry. This bill presumes guilt, profiles, and stereotypes of Hindus and Asians, which will increase hate and target our kids. I appeal to California not to single us out or presume we are guilty of being oppressive simply due to our birth.
Growing up in Fremont, my children had the chance to encounter with the term ‘caste, in their middle school when it was taught to them as part of Hinduism. In one class kids were made to role-play, we were surprised but shrugged it off. I am horrified to think they will live in a world, where the state will tag them with this term and identity irrespective of their own will, judge them for lifestyle choices, and subject them to double standards.
Aldrin Deepak, Tech Worker, LGBTQ, and Dalit American Activist
I live in San Francisco as a proud Hindu American, interacting with any number of South Asians at work, as a volunteer at temples, as a host for community Diwali events, at work, or in social outings. I am dismayed at how hate groups like Equality Labs seek to co-opt my identity and weaponize it against the very traditions that nourished and gave succor to millions through the ages. They seek to deny the place of Valmiki and Vyasa, authors of the world’s most glorious and influential epics-the Ramayana and Mahabharata. They negate the thousands upon thousands of subaltern-led temples that dot the landscape and attempt to refashion our sacred spaces to fit preconceived notions more grounded in monotheism. I reject the attempts from Equality Labs and California lawmakers to speak for my community or me. SB 403 will profile us and leave us subject to being judged by so-called experts, based on subjective criteria like last names, dietary preferences, skin color, and more.
Sudha Jagannathan, Bahujan Hindu American and Mother
I lived in Fremont and Union City for 30 years with kids and loved its diversity. Never in my 40 years in the U.S. as a student, technology employee, or community member did anyone bother about my caste, despite my supposed Bahujan roots which ‘experts’ claim should have been a handicap my whole life. My social network includes Indian Americans of all faiths and Americans of all stripes and colors.
I encountered the topic of caste with my children as they studied Hinduism or Indian history in schools. In the past few years, the American fascination for ‘caste’ and ‘caste policies has worried me greatly. So much so, that I now add my identity as a ‘Hindu Bahujan.’ It angers and frustrates me that America is forcing this identity on me while all my life this was never an issue. SB 403 will entrench the false and dangerous concept of caste as solely connected to Hindus. It reinforces the very discrimination that its supporters claim to stop via SB 403! My children and children will be branded with a caste, despite not knowing what it is! Say #NoToSB403.
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