Dear Friend,

Today is an auspicious day in the Nepali Lunar calendar. Dashain is one of the biggest holidays celebrated among those in the community that are Hindu and is observed by Nepali-speaking people across Nepal, Bhutan, India, Burma and other countries. It’s tradition to give blessings, feed delicious food, and exchange gifts and money (also known as Dakshina), to others celebrating.

We know that times are tough but celebration in the midst of hardship is important. Dashain is a time to celebrate the power of good and our strength. And we want to take a moment to celebrate with you.

When our communities fell to the margins during the pandemic, our members came together with power and resilience to step in with mutual aid, essential work, mobilized their peers, and stood up for the broader community. Through the pandemic we worked hard to protect our communities and now our fight for good has channeled into our fight for citizenship for our TPS communities and all undocumented immigrants.

These past few weeks our members in New York, Virginia, Maryland, Colorado and Texas have been mobilizing and joining thousands across the country in the streets to demand that the White House and Congress pass citizenship through reconciliation. I, alongside my colleague Director of Organizing & Programs Narbada Chhetri, took part in a mass civil disobedience action in front of the White House and were arrested last week. Our members and staff camped out in front of Senator Schumer’s house in Brooklyn that same week. On Wednesday, we held a press conference and interactive art installation in front of Congress with members and partners from Communities United for Status and Protection (CUSP), to demand citizenship and nothing less.

To keep the spirit of the holiday and our campaign alive, we are asking you to donate and give Dakshina to Adhikaar today. Our member leaders like Nita, a domestic worker and TPS holder from New York, or Raj, a rideshare driver and TPS holder from Virginia, are leading the way and inspiring us to take action, to win the fight for good. Will you join us?

Your support is the foundation of our work. Donors like you are what helps us keep pushing forward towards a more just future for our community.

In solidarity, 

Pabitra Khati Benjamin,

Executive Director, Adhikaar