Kamala Harris says the number of Indian-Americans in elected positions does not reflect their population

Washington:

The number of Indian-Americans in elected positions does not reflect their growing population, US Vice President Kamala Harris said on Wednesday, urging members of the ethnic minority community to increasingly run for elected positions.

Harris, who is of Indian and African heritage, spoke at “Desis Decide” – the annual summit of Indian American Impact, a Democratic Party think tank that supports and funds Indian Americans running for elected office across the country.

“Over the years, we have had much more participation from Indian-Americans in the electoral candidacy process. But the numbers still don’t reflect the size of the growing population,” Harris, the first Indian-American, African-American and woman to be elected vice president of the US, told a room packed with Indian-Americans in the nation’s capital.

There are currently five elected Indian-American members of Congress – Dr. Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Shri Thanedar. Impact believes that by 2024, American Indian strength in Congress will increase to 10 members.

In a hotly contested presidential race, Impact said Indian-American voters — the second-largest and fastest-growing immigrant community in many states — could be the decisive margin of victory in key races across the country.

The work done by Impact, Harris said in her opening remarks, is extraordinary as she applauded the role of the think tank and its members in electing not only community members, but also electing senators in states like Georgia.

“It’s really extraordinary. I wanted to stop by to thank, of course, the organization for everything and everything it represents, but also to say especially to those who ran or aspire to run, that you should run,” said Harris.

“You must know that you are not alone. There is still much to do as a country, and much of the work that each of us does, which is why we are here together, is born out of belief in the promise of America. And dare I say it, I am empirical evidence of the promise of America,” said the vice president.

“This election coming up in six months, I think represents an issue for each of us. In other words, what kind of world do we want to live in and what kind of country do we want to live in? And one of the ways we can answer that question is by seeking office and participating in elections knowing that the outcome of these elections is fundamentally important,” Harris said as she asked audience members to raise their hands if they were running. for office or planning to do so.

“What will happen, has invariably happened to all of us, is that you will invariably find yourself in rooms where you are the only one who looks like you, the only one who has had your life experience. What I say to each of you is: look around this room and hold this image. And remember then, when you walk into these rooms, when you walk into these situations, you will remember, you are not alone. We are all there with you. You must remember that,” she said.

Speaking on the occasion, Impact co-founder and treasurer Deepak Raj said Harris was instrumental in its formation eight years ago.

“She has been an incredible guiding force for this organization over time. She came to the first summit in 2018 and here she is again,” said Raj.

Raj said Harris is not only the first woman, but the first South Asian Indian-American woman to be elected vice president of the US.

“She’s been an incredible role model, I think for all of us. What she did was pave the way for women, for immigrants and for minorities and she is a true hero and an inspiration to us all,” he said.

“I think her success, what she has achieved, gives us hope and confidence that we have a bright future, all of us together striving for public office and as a community,” Raj said.

When the vice president took the stage, some briefly shouted “Four more years.” However, one person shouted “Shame on you”, which appeared to be a reference to the war in Gaza, but was not clear. The protester was soon removed from the room.

Harris also talked about her mother coming to the U.S. from India when she was 19 and marching for civil rights in Berkeley.

She said that growing up, she visited India every two years and her grandfather took her for morning walks. “And I remember, when I was young, hearing them discuss the importance of standing up for what is right and fair,” she said.

(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)