SAALT Responds to
Tragic Kansas Shooting:
This Country Is For
All of Us
South Asian Americans Leading
Together (SAALT), a national South Asian advocacy organization, is deeply
disturbed by the deadly shooting of two South Asian men, Alok Madasani and
Srinivas Kuchibhotla, in Kansas City that left one victim dead in what appears
to be a hate crime. Our thoughts and condolences go to the victims'
families and communities. Sadly, this latest act of violence comes as no
surprise given the anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim vitriol escalating across the
country, most notably illustrated in President Trump's divisive recent
executive orders.
"This incident is the latest in a rising tide of hate violence against
South Asian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Middle Eastern and Arab communities,
electrified by the President's anti-immigrant policies," stated Suman
Raghunathan, Executive Director of SAALT. "When our 'so-called' leaders
attempt to govern from an angle of xenophobia, these sentiments embolden deadly
violence against our communities."
Witnesses reported the shooter yelled "get out of my country" and
various racial slurs before opening fire, apparently believing his two victims
were 'Middle Eastern'. SAALT welcomes news that the FBI is investigating
whether this incident was racially motivated and we insist that considerations
of domestic terrorism are included in the investigation to address the problem
of growing white supremacy across the country.
SAALT's latest report, "Power, Pain, Potential," documents over 200
incidents of hate violence and xenophobic rhetoric against our communities
during the 2016 elections, with an astounding 95% of incidents motivated by
anti-Muslim sentiment. Regardless of the target, it is enough simply to be
perceived as Muslim to be the victim of violence.
The President has yet to comment or offer his condolences to the victims'
families after this latest tragedy, consistent with his pattern of curious
silence in the wake of hate violence incidents against many communities
including Muslim, Arab, South Asian, and Jewish Americans. When tragedies
charged with anti-immigrant sentiment occur on the heels of anti-immigrant
executive orders by the President, we must demand better from our leaders.
SAALT calls on the President to immediately denounce hate violence and rescind
his recent anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim executive orders. We further encourage
legislators at all levels to condemn this unacceptable violence.
Despite the venomous words of the shooter, there is a place in America for all
of our communities, and we will fight fiercely for our rightful place within it.
Jayapal on Kansas Shooting: “Senseless
acts of violence have no place in our country”
SEATTLE – Today, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal released the following statement
in response to the Kansas shooting of two Indian men. The shooter allegedly
targeted the two men, killing one and injuring the other. Witnesses present at
the scene said the shooter shouted at the two men, “Get out of my country.
“My thoughts are with the victims
and families shaken by the shooting in Kansas. Senseless acts of violence have
no place in our country. I’m heartbroken by this tragedy,” said Rep.
Jayapal. “Since the election of Donald Trump, hate crimes have sharply
risen – a phenomenon tied to the hateful ideas espoused by the president. In
the Seattle suburb of Redmond, the Muslim Association of Puget Sound mosque was
twice vandalized following the election in suspected hate crimes.
“This is not normal. We must
declare our entire country a hate free zone and fight to protect it as such.
During this moment of tragedy, I stand with Indian-Americans, Muslim-Americans,
and all groups impacted by the dangerous rhetoric coming out of the Trump
administration,” added Jayapal.
Following
the spike in hate crimes after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Jayapal founded
the immigrant rights group Hate Free Zone, now OneAmerica. Elected to the U.S.
House of Representatives in 2016, Jayapal serves on the House Judiciary
Committee and the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, as well as
the House Budget Committee.