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44 Orgs Write to Assembly members Evan Low and Alex Lee in Support of SB403

Read Letter Here
Read Press Release Here

Watch the launch at this link.

Join us at https://bit.ly/aacdsignup

Our esteemed panel of speakers include: 

Kshama Sawant member of the Seattle City Council who led the historic legislation banning caste discrimination in Seattle.

Dr. Roja Suganthy-Singh is Professor of Sociology, Anthropology, Gender and Sexuality Studies at St. John Fisher University ​whose activist scholarship focuses on the intersections of race, class and gender. Roja is co-founder and chair of Dalit Solidarity Forum, one of the earliest Dalit rights organizations in the US and the author of Spotted Goddesses:  Dalit Women’s Agency Narratives on Caste and Gender Violence. 

Dr. Veena Dubal Professor of Law at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco​, and an activist who works on issues of technology and the gig economy. Her paper titled “Wage Slave or Entrepreneur?” ​​played a key role in the historic ruling by the California Supreme Court in the misclassification of employees as independent contractors.

Alliance Organizations Include:

Welcome to America Against Caste Discrimination, a platform dedicated to raising awareness about caste-based discrimination in the United States and advocating for the rights of the marginalized communities affected by it.

Caste-based discrimination is a systemic form of oppression that has its roots in the caste system in India. It is based on the belief that individuals are born into a certain caste and that their position in society is predetermined by birth. Untouchability has been abolished in India, but the caste system, the root of untouchability, continues to impact people of Indian origin living in the United States and other countries. Caste discrimination in the United States takes many forms, including discrimination in employment, education, housing, and social interactions.

At America Against Caste Discrimination, we are committed to creating a world where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their caste, race, gender, or any other identity. We believe in the power of education and awareness-raising to combat caste discrimination and promote social justice. In February 2023, our movement achieved a historic victory, making Seattle the first jurisdiction globally outside South Asia to ban caste discrimination. Following the breakthrough victory in Seattle, legislation banning caste-based discrimination was introduced and passed in the California Senate (SB403), and now AACD is mobilizing relentlessly to pass SB403 in the California State Assembly.

Organizations under the AACD umbrella have been working together on several fronts and represent the true diversity of South Asian Americans. AACD includes oppressed-caste Ambedkarite and Dalit community organizations; Indian-American Sikh, Muslim, and Christian organizations; organizations representing progressive, anti-caste Hindus; socialists and union activists; and secular, progressive and workers’ organizations. This diversity demonstrates strong majority support for protections against caste discrimination among Indian- Americans.

Through our website, we provide resources, information, and news about caste discrimination in the United States. We also advocate for policies and laws that protect the rights of individuals from marginalized communities and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.

Join us in our mission to end caste discrimination in the United States and create a more just and equitable society for all.

Member Organizations:

Ambedkar International Center (AIC)

Ambedkar International Mission (AIM)

Ambedkarite Buddhist Association of Texas (ABAT)

Ambedkar King Study Circle (AKSC)

Amnesty International USA

Bhim International Foundation, USA

Boston South Asian Coalition

Boston Study Group

Coalition of Seattle Indian Americans

Dalit Solidarity Forum

Dr B.R. Ambedkar Educational Aid Society

Federation of Indian American Christians of North America (FIACONA)

Great Truth

Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR)

India Civil Watch International (ICWI)

Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC)

Office of Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant

Periyar Ambedkar Study Circle

Periyar International

Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha, Bay Area

Socialist Alternative

South Asian American Coalition to Renew Democracy

South Asian Left Activist Movement

Workers Strike Back

Dr B. R. Ambedkar on Caste

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, also known as the father of the Indian Constitution, was a prominent social reformer who fought against caste discrimination in India. Here are some of his notable comments on caste:

  1. “Caste is not a physical object like a wall of bricks or a line of barbed wire which prevents the Hindus from co-mingling and which has, therefore, to be pulled down. Caste is a notion; it is a state of the mind.”
  2. “The caste system is not merely a division of labor, it is also a division of laborers.”
  3. “The Hindu social order is a mere conglomerate of castes. The various castes are not complementary, they are competitive.”
  4. “If Hindu Raj becomes a reality, it will undoubtedly be the greatest calamity for this country. No matter what the Hindus say, Hinduism is a menace to liberty, equality, and fraternity. It is incompatible with democracy. Hindu raj must be prevented at any cost.”

Dr. Ambedkar’s writings and speeches on caste continue to inspire and educate people around the world about the devastating impact of caste discrimination on society. To search for Babasaheb’s Writings and Speeches, visit www.baws.in

Jotiba Phule: One of the three gurus of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Jotirao Govindrao Phule, also known as Jotiba Phule, was a social reformer, thinker, and activist who fought against caste discrimination and worked towards the upliftment of marginalized communities in 19th-century India. Here are some notable comments by Jotiba Phule on caste:

  1. “If you ask me what is the greatest evil of Hindu society today, I will have no hesitation to say that it is the caste system.”
  2. “The Shudra is the father of the gods, the Shudra is the father of the twice-born. The whole world rests on the shoulders of the Shudra.”
  3. “Caste is nothing but a mental disease, and the sooner it is abolished, the better.”
  4. “The Brahmins and the upper castes have monopolized education for their selfish ends, and they have kept the lower castes in ignorance and poverty.”
  5. “Religion is used as a tool by the upper castes to maintain their dominance over the lower castes. We need to break the shackles of religion and work towards a more equal and just society.”
  6. “The shudras (Dalits) are not untouchables by birth. It is the caste system that has made them so.”

Phule’s works and ideas continue to inspire and influence social justice movements in India and around the world. He dedicated his life to fighting against caste-based discrimination and working towards a more equitable society.