South Asian Americans Gather In D.C. To Counter Hate, Affirm Message: We Belong

South Asian Day on the Hill: Advocates held more than 70 direct meetings with Members of Congress and staff on April 21, 2026. PHOTOS: Catch Motion Studio courtesy Impact

Indian American Impact, an advocacy organization that advocates for expanding the community’s political footprint, hosted its annual Summit, Gala, and South Asian Hill Day, April 21 and 22, 2026, bringing together more than 300 South Asian American leaders, organizers, elected officials, artists, students, and advocates from across the country under this year’s theme: We Belong.

Leading healthcare experts, including the 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Vivek Murthy, speak to attendees at the Impact Summit: We Belong hosted by Indian American Impact on April 20, 2026 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. Photo credit: Catch Motion Studio

The event coincided with the 10th anniversary of the founding of Impact. Organizers said the convening came “at a pivotal moment for South Asian communities amid rising anti-immigrant rhetoric, growing political attacks, and renewed questions of belonging.”

U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal spoke about immigrant rights at the Impact Summit: We Belong hosted by Indian American Impact on April 20, 2026 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C

Over two days, attendees discussed how to build the community, advance policy solutions, and demonstrate the growing civic power of Indian and South Asian Americans, an April 28 press release from Impact said.

Highlights of the event included:

South Asian Hill Day
Joined by 21 partner organizations serving the South Asian diaspora, advocates held meetings with more than 70 House and Senate offices, highlighting priorities on immigrant rights, voting rights, and combating hate violence, “and making clear that South Asian Americans belong at every decision-making table.”

Summit & Gala: From Care to Action

Anchored by the theme We Belong, the Summit opened with former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in conversation on community care, loneliness, and what it means to show up for one another in difficult times.

U.S. Representative Ro Khanna spoke about how to shape AI as a force for good at the Impact Summit: We Belong hosted by Indian American Impact on April 20, 2026 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Policy issues were discussed in depth, ranging from the effect of artificial intelligence and immigrant rights to next-generation political leadership.

U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi spoke at the Impact Summit: We Belong hosted by Indian American Impact on April 20, 2026 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.

‘Action Labs’ included opportunities for participants to phonebank South Asian Virginia voters ahead of a key referendum election in which AAPI voters proved decisive, alongside trainings in media advocacy and writing letters to the editor.

Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi spoke to attendees about immigrant rights at the Impact Summit: We Belong hosted by Indian American Impact on April 20, 2026 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The Gala concluded the event where attendees celebrated a decade of building political power and honored trailblazers. Honorees included Pennsylvania State Senator Nikil Saval and former senior advisor to President Biden, Neera Tanden. Former Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta delivered a talk about how momentous a time it was and what is at stake in this moment.

U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam spoke about the importance of elevating youth leaders at the Impact Summit: We Belong hosted by Indian American Impact on April 20, 2026 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Other high-profile attendees included Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi; U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Suhas Subramanyam, and Raja Krishnamoorthi; Executive Director of the ACLU of Minnesota Deepinder Mayell; Manjusha Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate; as well as dozens of organizers, policymakers, journalists, and emerging South Asian elected officials, the press release noted.

Executive Director of Indian American Impact Chintan Patel said, “At a moment when our communities are being targeted and our loyalty questioned, we came to Washington not to ask for belonging, but to assert it. We met with Congress, organized across generations, and made clear that South Asian Americans are not on the sidelines of this democracy; we are helping shape its future. In the face of hate, our answer is not silence. It is solidarity, action, and power.”