Vaingankar Denounces Racist Attacks, Threats After Loomer Posts
India-West News Desk
PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ – Congressional candidate Jay Vaingankar has alleged that he and his campaign were targeted with racist attacks and threats following social media posts by conservative activist Laura Loomer.
In a statement released April 6, Vaingankar, who is running for Congress in New Jersey’s 12th District said Loomer and her supporters criticized him after he posted a campaign video in Hindi. “Over the weekend, Trump confidante Laura Loomer and her far-right allies attacked me by name in a series of racist posts calling me ‘un-American’ and accusing my campaign of putting ‘America Last’ – all because I posted a video reaching out to voters in Hindi,” Vaingankar said.
He added that the online attacks were followed by a surge of threatening messages. “Within hours, I was flooded with messages and comments filled with death threats, racial slurs, and calls for me to be deported and stripped of my birthright citizenship,” he said.
Vaingankar, 28, linked the incident to broader political tensions, stating that such actions were aimed at silencing outreach efforts to diverse communities. “Extremists like Loomer want to intimidate anyone who doesn’t fit a narrow definition of who belongs in this country,” he said.
Highlighting the demographics of New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, Vaingankar said the region reflects significant linguistic and cultural diversity. “One in every three residents is foreign-born, and two in five households speak a language other than English,” he said, adding that this diversity “represents the best of America.”
Vaingankar, who described himself as the son of Hindi-speaking parents and a Spanish speaker, said his campaign prioritizes engagement with underrepresented communities. He noted support from organizations including the AAPI Victory Fund and the Indian American Impact Fund.
“I’m proud to use my language skills to connect with diverse communities that are too often left out of our politics,” he said.
He also said the threats would not deter his campaign. “The racist threats by extremist MAGA agitators like Loomer won’t scare me into stopping now,” Vaingankar said, adding that the election would focus on issues such as rising utility costs and healthcare expenses.
