As we celebrate the election results and the Diwali Festival of Lights, we must recognize the significance of this victory for the Indian-American community.

In addition to being the first Black, and female, Vice President, @KamalaHarris will be the first Indian-American VP.

VP-elect Harris’s ascension means so much to many, including those of South Asian descent who are under-represented in Washington.

These communities are often overlooked in our politics and have been the target of hate crimes.

I think back to the shooting in Olathe, Kansas that injured two people and took the life of Srinivas Kuchibhotla, an engineer of Indian descent.

Srinivas was shot by a man who questioned his immigration status and yelled “get out of my country!” https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2017/02/28/us/kansas-shooting-indians-fbi.amp.html

We’re at a critical moment in which our leadership can take us forward, embracing our diversity and making us stronger for it—instead of taking us backward and inciting hate.

I look forward to @KamalaHarris and @JoeBiden leading us into that future