SAALT

SAALT is South Asian Americans Leading Together (2001-2024).,,

"Caste Discrimination" Agenda in Congress

SAALT X Post dated May 22, 2019

In May 2019, Thenmozhi Soundararajan's Equality Labs collaborated with South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), API Chaya, and Representative Pramila Jayapal’s office to host a congressional briefing in Washington, D.C., addressing so-called "caste discrimination" in the United States. The briefing stemmed from a 2016–2017 caste survey conducted by Equality Labs to gather quantitative data on caste dynamics within the South Asian diaspora in the US. The survey aimed to address the lack of comprehensive data beyond anecdotal accounts.

An X Post by SAALT dated May 22, 2019 referencing their "partners" at Equality Labs thanking Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, Frank Pallone, Jr. and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

As we await the fate of DREAM/PROMISE legislation being marked up today in the House, we are proud to co-sponsor today’s groundbreaking Congressional Briefing on caste led by our partners at @EqualityLabs. Thanks to @RepJayapal @Ilhan @FrankPallone @AOC for your support!

Staff

As of January 2018;

• Suman Raghunathan, Executive Director
• Lakshmi Sridaran, Director of National Policy and Advocacy
• Sonia Kotecha, Managing Director
• Vivek Trivedi, Communications and Development Manager
• Rochelle Howard, Administrative Manager

Board of Directors

As of January 2018;

• Amina Khan, McLean Furniture Gallery
• Anand Subramanian, Senior Director, PolicyLink
• Nitasha Sawhney, Garcia, Hernández, & Sawhney, LLP
• Sujata Gosalia, Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President, Cox Communications
• Seema Agnani, Executive Director, National CAPACD
• Shruti Garg, Senior Associate, Nonprofit Finance Fund
• Simran Noor, Senior Fellow, the new Race Forward
• Darakshan Raja, Founder/Co-Director, Justice for Muslims Collective

Council of Advisors

As of January 2018;

• Muneer Ahmad, Yale Law School
• Chandra Bhatnagar, American Civil Liberties Union
• Shahid Buttar, Bill of Rights Defense Committee
• Anushka Fernandoupulle, Consultant
• Chaumtoli Huq, New York Law School
• Anil Kalhan, Drexel University School of Law
• Sheela Murthy, Murthy Law Firm
• Tito Sinha, Private Practice
• Jayashri Srikantiah, Stanford University School of Law
• Gouri Sadhwani, Blue Green Alliance
• Jayesh Rathod, American University Washington College of Law

Meeting with Tammy Duckworth

Chirayu Patel and HANA Center executive director Inhe Choi met with Tammy Duckworth on January 18 2018

Chirayu Patel and HANA Center executive director Inhe Choi met with Tammy Duckworth on January 18 2018. In a tweet, Patel wrote:

"Just met with @SenDuckworth and staff to share my story as an Undocumented American. They promised to pass #DreamAct ASAP. Thanks to @HANACenter & @SAALTweets SAALT for support and highlighting importance of #FamilyReunification in our immigration policy. #NoDreamNoDeal"

AAPI defend DACA

On August 31 2017, numerous Asian advocacy groups (AAPI groups) organized in front of the White House to advocate for illegal immigration:

"Leaders from national Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations will gather in support of immigrants to urge President Trump to defend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The president has threatened to end the program, which would put approximately 800,000 young people at risk of losing their ability to get an education, work and contribute to their communities.

WHO: DACA Beneficiaries

• Becky Belcore, Co-Director, National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
• Quyen Dinh, NCAPA Chair and Executive Director, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
• John Yang, President and Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
• Kham Moua, NCAPA Immigration Committee Co-Chair and Associate Director of Policy and Advocacy, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates
• Alvina Yeh, Executive Director, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)
• David Inoue, Executive Director, Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
• Jason Tengco, Executive Director, National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA)
• Lakshmi Sridaran, Director of National Policy & Advocacy, South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)

SAALT Congressional Briefing on Hate Violence

March 23, 2017, South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), a national South Asian civil rights organization, held a Congressional briefing to address the uptick in hate violence nationwide and highlight recommendations for change, as outlined in our recent report, “Power, Pain, Potential.” SAALT was joined by eight members of Congressional leadership and community partners in an urgent discussion on combatting the surge in hate violence aimed at South Asian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Arab, and Middle Eastern Americans across the country.

“As President Trump continues to test fire Muslim bans, this administration appears intent on intensifying efforts to ignore and provoke hate violence,” stated Suman Raghunathan, Executive Director of SAALT. “The President has a sworn duty to protect the rights and safety of all Americans. Today’s briefing with Congressional leaders is an important step in making sure President Trump doesn’t escape his responsibilities.”

Our communities have experienced devastating violence in recent months, including deadly shootings in Kansas and Washington State, numerous arson attacks and vandalism of mosques, businesses, and homes nationwide, and mounting fear by our communities across the country.

“SAALT stands ready to work with Congressional leaders to fight hate violence and xenophobic political rhetoric impacting our communities across the country,” stated Ms. Raghunathan. “South Asian Americans are the most rapidly growing demographic group, and we are committed to policies at all levels that reinforce the place our communities have in our nation now and as we continue to grow.”

Honorary Co-Chairs of the briefing included: Senator Mazie Hirono (HI); Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT); Senator Ben Cardin (MD)

Member Co-Sponsors of the briefing included: Congressmembers Keith Ellison, Andre Carson; Raul Grijalva; Ami Bera; Grace Meng; Mark Takano; Pramila Jayapal; Raja Krishnamoorthi; Ro Khanna. Judy Chu also attended.

Partner organizations include: Sikh Coalition, Washington Peace Center/D.C. Justice for Muslims Coalition, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Arab American Institute.