The city of Oakland in California will be celebrating Diwali — the festival of lights — for the first time. Initiated by the city’s first South Asian Councilmember, Janani Ramachandran, the City will honor Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, on November 7, during the Oakland City Council meeting.
Members of the North American Manipuri Tribal Association (NAMTA), along with other Indian American community members protested July 23 in Oakland City, California, asking the US House of Representatives to take up the issue of the crisis in Manipur, India and pass a resolution condemning what they call state-sponsored atrocities that has afflicted the minority ethnoreligious Kuki-Zomis.
President Biden has declared June as the National Immigrant Heritage Month to celebrate the courage of immigrants who came to America in search of a better life for their future generations.
Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San José) introduced AB 919, the Stable Homes Act, on February 14 to give tenants, local public agencies, and mission-driven nonprofits a first opportunity to purchase or match an offer on rental housing properties when owners choose to put them up for sale. AB 919 is sponsored by California Reinvestment Coalition, Housing California, and Public Advocates.
India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and US Vice President Kamala Harris are among Forbes’ 19th annual list of ‘World’s 100 Most Powerful Women’ of 2022.
The Indian American juggernaut American politics continues. Janani Ramachandran, a public interest attorney, activist, and artist who has devoted her life to empowering under-served communities, has become the youngest councilmember and the first openly gay South Asian woman councilmember in Oakland’s history
Sikh Americans have excelled in California elections. The California Legislature will soon welcome Dr Jasmeet Kaur Bains from Bakersfield, its first Sikh and South Asian woman. Dr Bains grew up in the Bakersfield area and serves as Medical Director at Bakersfield Recovery Services.
The Indian American community received a sparkling Diwali gift on October 21 and 24 with both the White House and Vice President Kamala Harris hosting festive celebrations in their respective premises.
The US Vice President Kamala Harris added a dash of color and festivities of Diwali at her official residence, the United States Naval Observatory, on Friday, October 21. Scores of Indian Americans attended the fun and festivities at the US VP’s official residence to celebrate the festival of lights.
