***Rasel Rahman, Queens Community Service Center Director*** from The New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR). Thanks to both the CCHR and The Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes for sponsoring the event.

Last night’s Sikh-Hindu Community Round Table was nothing short of extraordinary. Hosted at the South Queens Women’s March office, the room was filled beyond capacity—with participants staying well past the scheduled end time. It was a clear sign of just how hungry our communities are for spaces of honest, inclusive, and healing dialogue.

Organized by Hindus for Human Rights, the Sikh Coalition, and the NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes and Commission on Human Rights, the event brought together a vibrant, multigenerational group committed to showing up for one another across lines of faith, identity, and experience. Huge thanks to the team who made this happen—especially Vrinda Jagota, Harmeet Kaur Kamboj and Sunita Viswanath—for the vision, labor, and heart that went into such a moving and collaborative evening.

The discussion was wide-ranging, intimate, and refreshingly nuanced. Participants reflected on what “community” means—whether rooted in culture, shared values, lived experience, class, or a combination of all four—and how we might imagine a more welcoming, inclusive future. Youth attendees shared openly about their experiences navigating interfaith dynamics at school and college, and parents joined in with stories of how things are shifting in classrooms and school cultures.

There were powerful conversations about the urgency of this political moment. From the threat of ICE raids to the feeling that the country is regressing culturally and politically, many expressed a deep need for solidarity—not just in theory, but in action. We talked about the importance of showing up for each other and protecting one another, especially as hate, surveillance, and exclusion threaten our safety and our collective future.

Flyer for Saturday’s event in Rizzuto Park

We also confronted the internal dynamics within our communities—acknowledging how gatekeeping and exclusion often go unchecked. Participants spoke honestly about implicit bias, asking how we can each do better. The marginalization of Indo-Caribbean Hindus within broader Indian Hindu spaces came up as just one example of how we must deepen our awareness and expand our definitions of belonging.

By the end of the evening, it was clear: this was not a one-time gathering. Participants called for ongoing meetings, cultural events, and new ways to build relationships across difference.

The first follow-up event is already being held this Saturday.

Here’s the Flyer be sure to come if you are in the neighborhood and share with others who might be interested!!

This was a moment of collective courage, trust, and transformation. We’re proud of what we built last night—and even more excited for what comes next.