SAN, SAHARA Hold Protest Over Violence Against Women

ARTESIA, CA — The South Asian Network (SAN) on August 21 and the South Asian Helpline and Referral Agency (SAHARA) held a candlelight vigil and protest in solidarity with the women of India currently advocating for their right to safety and justice.

This comes after the tragic case regarding Moumita Debnath, a second-year postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata. She was found murdered in a seminar hall on the college campus. An autopsy revealed that she had been the victim of gang rape and subsequently killed. This tragic event has ignited widespread outrage and led to nationwide protests, calling for a comprehensive investigation and raising serious concerns about the safety of women and medical professionals in India.

The march began on Pioneer Boulevard here and was led by roaring chants, with supporters waving posters and getting acknowledgment from passing cars blowing their horns.

Representatives from SAN and SAHARA spoke about the malaise of rape culture & safety of women, throughout South Asia and in other parts of the world. The march concluded at the SAN office with a healing circle hosted by Mahtab Javed Siddiqui, SAN’s Mental Health Program Manager.

“Protesting in Los Angeles shows our commitment to global solidarity and standing up against injustice, no matter where it happens. It reflects our belief in transformative justice, where we focus on addressing harm by challenging systems of oppression. By supporting Moumita, we are part of a larger movement to reimagine justice and create a world where dignity and equity prevail for women everywhere,”  said Sachini Rajapaksa, SAN’s Program Coordinator, Gender-Based Violence.

Organizers said gender-based violence is a global crisis within South Asian culture and the stigma of being a victim can exacerbate this suffering. Societal stigma is compounded by systemic failures, from under-reported cases to inadequate police response, and inefficient legal processes which often leave victims feeling powerless. The belief that sexual violence is a private matter rather than a public issue is what contributes to the lack of accountability and fuels the fear of shame, they pointed out.

For support: 562-403-0488, saninfo@southasiannetwork.org or www.southasiannetwork.org