Hindus for Justice, a national network of Hindu progressives across the United States, supports Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) in his bid for Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Rep. Ellison has a long record of upholding true principles of peace and justice, particularly for the most marginalized communities in the United States and around the world. He has consistently worked for higher wages, regulation of predatory financial institutions, fairer trade laws, and the inclusion of all Americans in public life, in a way that excites disengaged voters. Now more than ever, the Democratic Party would benefit from Ellison’s vision.

Ellison is being subjected to smears in the same way that Muslims Americans have been subjected to them for years, heightened in frequency and violence since Donald Trump’s candidacy and election. In this moment, Hindu Americans who participate in legitimizing this type of racist demagoguery shrouded in words like “concern” should be condemned in the loudest terms. Attempts to paint Rep. Ellison as “anti-Hindu” or “anti-Indian” support an agenda driven by groups whose true objections might be to the Congressman’s religion.

Ellison has been a fighter for LGBTQ equality, women’s rights, paid family leave, comprehensive immigration reform, environmental justice, and climate action. He has stood with racial and religious minorities, both in the U.S. and around the world. This includes his work on H.Res 569, recognizing the tenth anniversary of the genocide in Gujarat and H.Res 417 recognizing the rights of minority communities in India — resolutions backed up by the findings of independent studies by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

As Hindus grounded in the Vedic principle of rita, or acting in accordance with justice, we are encouraged by Ellison’s leadership in championing truth and standing up for all marginalized communities.

Hindus for Justice is a network of Hindu progressives across the United States committed to ending violence and injustice against Hindus, Muslims, Dalits, Christians, Sikhs, LGBTQ communities, women, the poor, and other vulnerable communities.

Photo Credit: Lorie Shaull