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SACRED Democracy

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South Asian American Coalition to Renew Democracy
📍Chicago

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ABC7: At a joint press conference, faith, civil rights, and elected leaders demanded action—not just words following the alleged white supremacist terrorist plot targeting Hindu worshippers in Aurora.

“We should not have to wait until our temples become massacre sites,” said Rishab Chatty of Hindus for Human Rights, calling for the country to take anti-Hindu hatred, anti-Indian racism, and white supremacist violence seriously @hindusforhumanrights

ABC7 highlighted Stop AAPI Hate’s findings that nearly half of South Asian adults experienced race-based hate in 2025, with 53% of those affected reporting negative mental or physical health impacts @stopaapihateaction

“When hate crimes are labeled as vandalism or property crimes or low-level misdemeanors, we are not accounting to the intensity of hate crimes that’s happening in our country,” said Litcy Kurisinkal, board member of the Indian American Democratic Organization @iado_chicago

Leaders called for restoring federal funding for hate-crime prevention and policy changes addressing underreporting. Aurora Mayor John Laesch described increased patrols at houses of worship and coordination with Sikh community members, emphasizing the need for a community response—not just a police response.

Thanks to the reporting by @abc7chicago’s @eric_horng and @maher_kawash by @sacred.democracy

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WGN9: CAIR-Chicago joined Hindu, Jewish, Indian, and civil rights leaders to condemn the alleged white supremacist terrorist plot targeting Hindu worshippers in Aurora and demand action against rising anti–South Asian hate.

Executive Director Ahmed Rehab criticized the Trump administration’s hateful rhetoric and called on political leaders to confront white supremacy:

“Enough is enough. We call on our political leaders to step up and show courage and clarity and be true patriots. Patriotism is not beating your chest to your color or religion, but understanding that all Americans are entitled to safety and prosperity under this one flag.” by @sacred.democracy

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Yesterday, Nidhi Shastri, one of our community organizers with Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago, stood alongside @sacred.democracy, @cairchicago, elected officials, and other organizations of different faiths and communities to condemn the thwarted mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora. Advancing Justice | Chicago stands with the South Asian community in Aurora and all of Chicagoland, and we reaffirm our commitment to advancing peace, safety, and security for all. We strongly condemn all forms of violence that target people because of who they are. No one should fear for their safety while gathering in spaces of worship, community, and belonging.

This threat of violence towards the South Asian community is rooted in a history of anti-Asian and anti-immigrant sentiments – and is intensified by the blatantly racist scapegoating and hateful rhetoric coming out of the Trump administration.

But despite experiencing a long and painful history of racist and xenophobic behavior in this country, our Asian communities are rooted in strength, resilience, and perseverance. There are many organizations across Chicagoland fighting for the rights of everyday people. Don’t let them silence or intimidate us – now's the time to join us to build a world where everyone is safe.

Nidhi ended her remarks with this reflection: "When faced with racist attacks, my mother always told me 'darwanu nahi' - don’t be afraid. Now, I want to share that same message with my community. Chicago is our home, and we are here to stay." by @sacred.democracy

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2 days ago

Check out our first panelist for “Trans Allyship in South Asian Communities”, the one, the only Twinka Masala 🥳

Twinka Masala (they/them) is an award winning transgender, queer and Pakistani drag artist and activist based in Chicago, performing nationwide. @twinka_masala is a contestant season 2 of King of Drag, the world’s first drag king reality tv show. They organize queer south asian sapphic and trans community events in Chicago with Masala Dykes. They also serve as a collective member of the Chicago Dyke March.

We are so excited to hear their story and can’t wait to see you there!

Link in bio- Don’t miss this!

🗓️ Nov 13, 2026
🕛 6:30-9pm CST
📍 18th Street Casa de Cultura

🎟️EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE NOW🎟️

#transally #translivesmatter #solidarity #justiceforall #southasian taken in 18th Street Casa de Cultura by @sacred.democracy

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FOX 32: Aurora Mayor John Laesch, CAIR-Chicago and other interfaith groups held a news conference Thursday afternoon.

Laesch said the city is thankful the attack did not happen and that the suspect was apprehended before he could act.

“We’re thankful that he was apprehended, that he did not act and we appreciate all those who worked together to make sure that that did not happen,” Laesch said. “… I’ve learned that we cannot control the thoughts and actions of others… but we can control our own actions. We cannot be afraid as the voices of facism grow louder.”

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab also spoke at the news conference, calling on political leaders to take action.

“This young man was very clear in his own motives and intentions. He has been looking into Nazi ideology for two years and he’s not the only one. They keep coming. Enough is enough. We call on our political leaders to step up,” Rehab said. “…All Americans are entitled to safety and prosperity under this one flag.”

The FBI’s Chicago Field Office, the Palatine and Mount Prospect police departments, and federal and local prosecutors are reviewing the case. Authorities are determining whether federal charges will be filed.

Paporakis is being held in custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 30 in Rolling Meadows.

Thanks to @fox32chicago @lumjoanie for reporting. by @sacred.democracy

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🚨 WHITE SUPREMACIST TERRORISM MUST BE CALLED WHAT IT IS.

Today, CAIR-Chicago joined @sacred.democracy , the @sikhcoalition , @sikhamericans SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund), and Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Chicago) @advancingjusticechicago for a joint press conference alongside community allies and elected officials, including State Senator Ram Villivalam @senatorvillivalam and Aurora Mayor John Laesch @johnforaurora

Together, we condemned the failed white supremacist terrorist plot by 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis, who has been charged with making a terrorist threat after allegedly planning a mass shooting targeting Hindu worshippers at an Aurora temple.

Investigators reportedly recovered Nazi imagery and a white supremacist manifesto expressing violent hatred toward Indian, Jewish, and Black American communities, among other minority groups. This was not hatred directed at one community alone, but an alleged terrorist plot rooted in an ideology that threatens us all.

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab called on the media to apply the same standards in identifying the suspect as an alleged “terrorist” that are so often applied to Muslim, Black, and Brown suspects, who are routinely associated with terrorism and extremism.

We stand in unwavering solidarity with our Hindu brothers and sisters and all communities threatened by white supremacy, racism, and religious hatred.
Terrorism must be called terrorism, regardless of the perpetrator’s race, religion, or background.

Additional speakers included:

Pushkar Sharma — SACRED Acts
Anusha Thotakura — Chicago Board of Education member
Rishab Chatty — Hindus for Human Rights @hindusforhumanrights
Kalman Resnick — Jewish Council on Urban Affairs @jcua_chicago
Litcy Kurisinkal — Indian American Democratic Organization
Nidhi Shastri — Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago taken in Chicago, Illinois by @sacred.democracy

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An attempted mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, was stopped before it could take place.

HfHR Chicago Chapter Leader Rishab Chatty spoke today alongside partners across Chicago’s Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, South Asian and Asian American communities to condemn the alleged plot and the white supremacist hatred behind it.

Authorities say the suspect had a rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a manifesto targeting Indian, Jewish and Black people.

At a moment of rising anti-South Asian hate, our answer cannot be fear or communities turning against one another. Hindu safety is bound up with the safety of every community targeted by racism and white supremacy.

We stand together against hate.

#StopAAPIHate #SouthAsianAmericans #HinduAmericans #Chicago #AuroraIllinois @jcua_chicago @iadochicago by @sacred.democracy

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We are horrified to hear of the news that a 19-year-old man and self-proclaimed white supremacist allegedly attempted to commit a mass shooting at a temple in Aurora, Illinois, with community members and police intervening before this terrible act could occur.

Police later found a rifle and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at the man’s home along with a manifesto that described Indian, Jewish and African American people as “subhumans.” The man, a self-proclaimed “white supremacist neo nazi” told coworkers that he couldn’t wait to kill Indian people and showed them a document outlining an alleged plan for the mass shooting as well as photos of tactical gear, the AP reported.

This news comes at a time when South Asians are facing a surge in racist violence and a recent report from Stop AAPI Hate found that half of South Asian adults in the U.S. said they experienced a hateful act based on their race in 2025. Just last month, a truck driver named Gurvinder Singh was stabbed 17 times at a Wyoming rest stop in a racially motivated attack.

Join SACRED Acts at 3 p.m. today at the CAIR-Chicago office downtown to condemn this and all other instances of racism and threats of racist violence and to call for support in bringing an end to hate acts against the AAPI community.

Read more about yesterday’s events in the AP here: https://apnews.com/article/thwarted-mass-shooting-hindu-temple-illinois-387daf2142f6f3be2400540694c7d9f3

Read the full Stop AAPI Hate report here: https://stopaapihate.org/2026/09/03/the-state-of-anti-south-asian-hate/ by @sacred.democracy

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CHICAGO - Show up and show the Indian government that the diaspora stands for democracy. We have TWO protests scheduled in front of the Chicago consulate. One on Thursday, October 15th, and another on Saturday, October 17th.

If you repress the voices of India, the voices of Indians around the world will roar!

#India #VotingRights #votechori taken in Chicago, Illinois by @sacred.democracy

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7 days ago

📣 SACRED Acts is proud to announce our 2026 West Coast General Federal election endorsements. 🗳️

Each of these candidates has pledged to protect South Asian American communities from: ✅Religious extremism ✅Foreign government attacks ✅Caste discrimination

🗳️Rep. Pramila Jayapal: Washington, CD-07
🗳️ Rep. Aisha Wahab: California, CD-14
🗳️ Rep. Ro Khanna: California, CD-17

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3 for Washington and California. Swipe for your state's voter information center, and check your registration, precinct, and dropbox locations before you head to the polls! by @sacred.democracy

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a month ago

⏰ APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16!

📣 Are you ready to build power in your community? SACRED is looking for our next cohort of Organizing Fellows! Applications for the 2027 Organizing Fellowship are now open!

Who We're Looking For:

🔹 SACRED is searching for enthusiastic, dynamic individuals who are passionate about building our multifaith, multiracial democracy!

🔹 Successful fellowship candidates will demonstrate an intersectional understanding of and commitment to racial, gender, caste, and economic justice, as well as democracy, equality, and human rights.

🔹 Candidates should have a background or interest in civic engagement, community and/or political organizing, power mapping, communications, policy, or public interest. SACRED will provide organizing training on the specific approach and methods we use, but we're looking for fellows who are familiar with analyzing local dynamics, engaging community members, and building a diverse coalition on the issues we work on.

📩 Link to apply and for more details in bio! by @sacred.democracy

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a month ago

A few photos from @mauliikraj's Rehearsing Begampura Anti-Caste Workshop which took place at Shruti Box Studios in collaboration with @sacred.democracy

Thank you for having this amazing workshop in our space! taken in Shruti Box Studios by @sacred.democracy

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