IAFPE organises event to address racial attacks on Indians at MIT

MIT and Indian American Forum for Political Education (IAFPE) are organizing a panel discussion and talk on May 6^th at MIT. This event is to be held in view of the recent racial attacks on Indians in America. The IAFFP has  shown concern about the murder of Indian software engineer Srinivas Kuchibotla in Olathe Kansas in February and a few more racial attacks in Florida and South Carolina.

IAFPE and SACO  also conducted a candle light vigil at different locations in remembrance of the slain engineer on March 20^th in Boston which was attended by 300 mourners.

“We feel the murder and a few subsequent attacks on Indians in Washington State and elsewhere have created a climate of anxiety in the Indian community. Traditionally the Indian community has been less prepared to react to such acts of violence and hatred as we saw ourselves as comfortable in our middle class ways. However, these recent  incidents are getting. more people worried ” says the IAFPE release.

Mr. Sam Khan Chairman of South Asian Community Outreach, a tough community leader and an activist, organized the procession and candlelight vigil, in Edison, NJ  is seen in the photo with other community leaders.

Mr. Pradeep Kothari, President of Indo-Cultural Society, an active Indian community leader speaking to the audience.

The Indian American Forum for Political Education (IAFPE) has taken the lead in organizing a panel discussion to share effective strategies and tactics from police and public safety officials and a couple of community leaders that have previously addressed such issues. “We hope this brings together the South Asian community to learn about their rights, about how to reach out to law enforcement officials when needed, to share their experiences, and to learn from the panel and each other to develop the community’s coordinated response plan” emphasise the organisers

The meeting  on May 6th from  MIT would have  panel of distinguished speakers consisting of Commissioner William Evans – Boston Police Department, Genevieve Nadeau – Chief, Civil Rights Division, Office of Attorney General of Massachusetts, Kashif Syed – Community Outreach, Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC) and Robert Trestan – Executive Director, New England Region Anti Defamation League

The panel will  be moderated by Prof. Kasturi (Kash) Rangan who is the co-chair of the Social Enterprise Institute at Harvard Business School.