CHICAGO, Ill. — U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has urged Indian Americans to confront rising bigotry by speaking out, building coalitions, and deepening political engagement, warning that silence could leave the community increasingly vulnerable.
Speaking at the India Abroad® Dialogue in Chicago, Krishnamoorthi said anti-Indian sentiment was growing and could become more dangerous when combined with political violence. “We are kind of in this moment where anti-Indian sentiment is on the rise,” he said. “It’s going to become dangerous when combined with the rise of political violence as well.”
He cited recent instances of hate speech directed at him personally, including remarks from an elected official in Florida. “An elected official from Florida called for me to be deported. He called me a foreign occupier,” Krishnamoorthi said, adding, “I said, just call me Raja — I’ll just call you racist.”
Outlining what he described as three essential responses for the Indian American community, Krishnamoorthi stressed the importance of rejecting silence. “One, we have to speak up,” he said, pushing back against earlier advice that staying quiet could reduce backlash.
“The second thing is you need to speak up even when there’s bigotry, prejudice and hatred directed at anyone else,” he said, urging solidarity across communities. “At the end of the day, we have to multiply our numbers by standing shoulder to shoulder with others.”
The third priority, he said, was political participation. “If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re on the menu,” he said. “None of us can afford to be on the menu.”
Krishnamoorthi also addressed public safety concerns, pointing to what he called a national crisis of gun violence. “There’s a mass shooting every day on average,” he said, calling for “common sense gun regulations” along with improved mental health support.
He emphasized that political rhetoric itself can have real-world consequences. “We have to lower the temperature of the rhetoric that we use about each other,” he said. “People listen to you, and if they listen to you, they may act.”
Dr Bharat Barai, a longtime Indian American community leader, warned that even legal immigration was being questioned by some political voices. “We all agree illegal immigration should be stopped, but legal immigration also should be stopped — that is deeply disturbing,” he said.
Barai said Indian Americans are law-abiding citizens who contribute disproportionately to taxes and education. “We should continue to lead in medicine, technology, education and commerce,” he said.
The discussion also touched on the spread of online misinformation, with participants warning of coordinated propaganda campaigns. “We see massive negativity online,” said Ankit Jain of the U.S. India Strategic and Partnership Forum, arguing that much of it was “not organic.”
Indian Americans remain among the most educated and economically successful immigrant groups in the United States, but community leaders said rising political polarization has made sustained civic engagement more critical than ever. (Source: IANS)
