Leaders of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) USA, together with representatives of Indian American community organizations, convened on January 19, 2026, to address the rising incidence of anti-Indian and anti-Hindu sentiment in the United States and to develop a constructive response rooted in civic responsibility and democratic values.
The meeting was chaired and moderated by Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of GOPIO USA and a Member of the Board of Governors of Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC), who presented an overview of the challenges facing the community and outlined potential strategic responses. Prakash Shah, President of GOPIO International, noted that recent hostility and anti-Indian rhetoric appear to be driven by a small fringe group from the extreme right and do not reflect mainstream American values.
Participants reaffirmed that the Indian American community is peaceful, law-abiding, and socially constructive, with no history of organized violence or social aggression. While isolated misunderstandings may occur—as they do in broader society—the community’s overall record reflects overwhelmingly positive contributions to American civic life, economic growth, and social cohesion.
Strategic and Measured Response – Participants observed that recent increases in online hostility and bias incidents are driven less by crime or lack of integration and more by economic anxiety, the politicization of skilled immigration, racial profiling, and the amplification of stereotypes through digital platforms.
Strengthening Civic Engagement and Integration – A key theme of the meeting was reinforcing assimilation alongside cultural pride. Leaders emphasized the importance of full participation in civic institutions, local communities, and democratic processes. The group discussed expanding voter engagement, civic education, youth leadership development, and bipartisan outreach initiatives to promote long-term inclusion and meaningful civic participation. Community members were also encouraged to actively engage in local activities and support charitable and interfaith initiatives.
Action Plan – GOPIO has established a Task Force to document hate campaigns and civil rights violations affecting the community. The Task Force members are Rajender Dichpally (Chair), Nagaraj Subbarao Sarma, Pankaj Sharma, Miraj Joshi and Jayashri Chintalapudi. GOPIO has requested community members to report any hate campaign against Indian American community or any civil rights violation to GOPIO’s exclusive email address at watch@gopio.net or call 203-329-8010.
