The U.S. Capitol was buzzing with organizers, volunteers and leadership from more than 30 South Asian community-based organizations for the first-ever South Asian Coalition Convening on March 26.

The event, facilitated by a host of South Asian-focused organizations, including ASATA Power, Manavi, Muslims for Just Futures, Raksha, and supported by the Building Movement Project, brought together a passionate group from across the nation to respond to changes in immigration policies under the Trump Administration. It was co-sponsored by Congressional Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Grace Meng (D-N.Y.).

The South Asian Coalition (SAC) is an emergent network of local and national organizations across the United States, committed to collective liberation, collaboration, and solidarity.

Come with me to learn more about this historic convening.

Joti Rekhi: What does it look like when more than 30 South Asian organizations from across the country come together in the nation’s capital to push for policy changes? Here, let me show you.

I’m Joti Rekhi, a video fellow with Central Desi, and I’ll tell you what their demands are at a briefing once I head inside. Come, let’s go.

First step, get through security. This is actually my first time in the Capitol building, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But it’s pretty similar to going through TSA at the airport.
Here are the event’s greeters.

We’re now going to head down to the briefing and hear from Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Grace Meng.

Wow, this is absolutely stunning. Here’s our meeting space.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal: Today, I stand before you as the first and unfortunately still the only, but hopefully not for too long, South Asian American woman in the United States Congress.

Rekhi: The convening was led by ASATA Power, Manavi, Muslims for Just Futures, and Raksha, with support from the Building Movement Project, in response to immigration policies under the current administration.

Jayapal: It is absolutely critical that we make our voices heard on our specific needs while joining the broader coalition to reform our broken immigration system.

Rekhi: New Jersey’s very own, Navneet Bhalla, the executive director of Manavi, introduced panelists. They included SAAJCO, Asian Refugees United, The Sikh Coalition, South Asian Network, The Dalit Solidarity Forum, and Raksha.

Navneet Bhalla, Manavi executive director: One of the most important things the South Asian Coalition brings is the infrastructure and the collective power building that I think has been a gap within our community.

Rekhi: They discussed a number of issues, including immigration and labor, the impacts of enforcement, institutional targeting, safety, and birthright citizenship, specifically advocating for the support of legislation such as the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, the Religious Workforce Protection Act, and increased funding for community-based organizations supporting undocumented immigrants.

Rajiv Narayan, co-lead of ASATA Power: It’s so important for members of the South Asian Coalition to work together right now, because there are so many different kinds of attacks and structures of oppression impacting all of us simultaneously.

Deepa Iyer, Building Movement Project: We’re going through a time when so many of us have less faith in institutions, especially the government. But at the same time, for these nonprofit organizations to come and say, these are our policy demands, these are the stories of our community members, it is vital in doing any sort of civil agency work in the United States.

Rekhi: If you’re interested in getting involved in future convenings, be sure to reach out to ASATA Power or any of the many organizations that were at the convening. And if you like this content, be sure to give myself and Central Desi a follow.

Joti Kaur Rekhi is the inaugural video reporting fellow at Central Desi. She is a veteran local news anchor and reporter who recently launched her own production company, Harjan.

April 16 – Honor Dalit History Month with Equality Labs
7 - 8 PM
Virtual Event
Join Equality Labs’ Executive Director Thenmozhi Soundararajan and Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad, author of “The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde” for a special Dalit History Month conversation on Black and Dalit Liberation. This discussion will highlight luminary thinkers like Audre Lorde and James Baldwin and Dalit leaders like Ambedkar and Shri Guru Ravidas. Select audience members will get copies of Rima’s book! Get your tickets here.

April 19 – Opening Reception for “Resonance: Roots & Routes”
3 - 5 PM
Mayo Performing Arts Center (Art Upstairs Gallery)
100 South Street
Morristown, NJ 07960
Attend the opening reception for an art exhibition featuring 41 South Asian artists working across diverse media, styles, and narratives. If you can’t attend the reception, the exhibit will be on view from April 16 to May 19, 2026. More details on the exhibit here.

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