IMC-USA campaign to mark Victory for Pluralism and highlight US based hate group funding in India and Gujarat violence
March 23, 2005
The Indian Muslim Council-USA, an advocacy group working towards protecting and promoting minority rights in India and a founding member of the Coalition Against Genocide (CAG), has announced that it will hold a "Victory for pluralism and a new resolve for justice" campaign instead of a protest rally in Fort Lauderdale, FL on March 24-26. The campaign will be held during the Asian American Hotel Owners Association’s (AAHOA) annual convention, which had invited Narendra Modi as a guest of honor. The campaign will mark the denial and revocation of Narendra Modi’s visa to US as a milestone reached in the struggle for justice for the victims of the 2002 Gujarat pogroms.
The US State department decision to deny Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat and chief architect of the Gujarat pogrom of 2002, a diplomatic visa and to revoke his existing tourist/business visa based on the International Religious Freedom Act is a landmark victory for the Coalition Against Genocide (CAG). The CAG action against Modi included simultaneous campaigns on multiple fronts and received strong support from international organizations such as Human Rights Watch (HRW), Institute on Religion and Public Policy (IRPP) and Amnesty International (AI). The 38 organizations in U.S. and Canada that constitute CAG represent a spectrum that include women’s organizations, youth collectives, secular groups as well as Hindu, Sikh, Christian and Muslim organizations.
The campaign being held by IMC-USA and CAG, will conclude with a Press Conference at the Broward County Convention Center on Saturday. The Press Conference will highlight the continuing human rights violations in the Indian state of Gujarat and push further for the speedy delivery of justice to the victims of the 2002 pogrom. The conference will also focus on the contribution of Modi’s US based supporters to the rise in anti-American violence in India. In addition the campaign will challenge the role of the US supporters of the divisive politics espoused by Narendra Modi and his political party, and their attempts to direct money to institutions in India that promote hate-mongering and communal violence. IMC-USA considers the denial of visa to Narendra Modi as a victory for pluralism and a win for the supporters of human rights and justice in the U.S. and in India.
The weekend events will include:
1. What: Showing of Final Solution documentary about the 2002 Gujarat pogrom
Director: Rakesh Sharma
When: 7-9 PM March 23, 2005
Where: HULL Auditorium (room # 2105), Terry Building, Health Profession Division
Nova Southeastern University, Main Campus, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale
2. What: On Campus Teach-in: Politics of Hate in Gandhi’s Land- American Connection
Speakers: Dr. Angana Chatterji, California Institute of Integral Studies and other experts
When: 7-9 PM March 24, 2005
Where: Room # 1124, H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship
Nova Southeastern University, Main Campus, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale
3. What: Press Conference
When: 11:00 AM March 26, 2005
Where: Near Broward County Convention Center, Fort Lauderdale, FL
17th Street and Eisenhower Blvd (Walgreens intersection)
Contact:
Syed Rahman
IMC-USA, Florida Chapter
Tel: 954-205-1048
media@imc-usa.org
