San Francisco, CA: Indian American community leader and commissioner on President Joe Biden’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders Ajay Bhutoria Tuesday hosted a roundtable with Department of Justice Representatives from washington and representatives of the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Muslim communities to address recent concerns within the Indian American community.
The discussion included safety and security of the Indian consulate, hate crimes, and community tensions. The attendees engaged in a productive dialogue, and shared thoughts, ideas, and experiences.
Department of Justice representative Harpreet Mokha and Vincent Player were present at the event to listen to the community’s concerns and offer support. The roundtable was aimed to build stronger relationships between diverse Indian community groups and the broader national community.
The attendees emphasized the importance of peaceful protests and the need for education and training for community members on how to protest peacefully and within the limits of the law.
“By coming together, we can begin to develop strategies and solutions to promote peace, harmony, and understanding within our community,” said Ajay Bhutoria.
All participants agreed that violent protests and abusive behavior have no place in society, and it’s essential to prevent these incidents from occurring. The roundtable was a successful effort to enhance dialogue and understanding within the Indian American community, and build stronger relationships between community members and the broader US community.
US committed to protecting diplomatic missions
The United States is committed to taking all appropriate steps to protect diplomatic missions and diplomats in the country. At a news conference on Tuesday, US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said, “The department is committed to taking all appropriate steps, including coordination with federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities, to protect the safety and security of these facilities and the diplomatic individuals who work within them as well.”
