The current political climate in India, fueled by the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), remains non-inclusive of the diverse ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds present in the country today. The CAA, passed in December 2019, allows non-Muslim immigrants in India who are originally from Muslim-majority nations to more easily gain Indian citizenship, while Muslim individuals from these same nations retain the extreme difficulties of gaining refugee status themselves. Amongst other groups, those marginalized include low-income Indians, Kashmiris, Dalits, and student protestors who are targeted for their status and/or beliefs.
UCLA students, faculty, and anyone else who wishes to join will meet on Thursday, March 5 from 12:00-1:30 pm at Meyerhoff Park (308 Westwood Plaza) in order to demonstrate solidarity with those adversely affected by the bill. UCLA’s protest will be one of more than eighteen others across the nation that will be occurring on Thursday.
Attendees are asked to wear black in an attempt to represent how the Modi government’s Hindu nationalist policies act against the official secular stance of the Indian government.
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