In a powerful demonstration of unity and resilience, more than 800 Indian Americans from Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin gathered outside the Pakistan Consulate in Chicago today to protest the brutal terrorist attack that claimed the lives of innocent Hindu and Christian tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir. The attack, perpetrated by Islamic extremists allegedly linked to Pakistan, has triggered global outrage and urgent calls for action.

Organized by the U.S.-India Community Foundation and supported by over 25 leading Indian-American organizations, the protest echoed a common demand: Pakistan must be officially declared a terrorist state. Participants carried banners and chanted slogans such as “Hindu Lives Matter,” “Pakistan Stop Terrorism,” “Declare Pakistan a Terror State,”and “Join Hands to Fight Terrorism,” sending a strong, clear message to world leaders, the media, and the United Nations.

Outrage against terror and calls for global action

Addressing the crowd, prominent community leader Dr. Bharat Barai declared, “We stand united in grief and outrage. We demand that the perpetrators be held accountable. Justice must be served for the innocent victims and their grieving families.”
Amitabh Mittal, General Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad America, emphasized,”Terrorism has no place in a civilized world. We are here to demand accountability not just for Pahalgam’s victims but for decades of suffering endured by Hindus in Kashmir.”

Former FIA President Rakesh Malhotra added, “We will not be silent. We urge the United Nations and global leaders to recognize Pakistan’s continued support for terror and officially declare Pakistan a terrorist state.”
Hemant Patel, current President of FIA Chicago, noted, “The global community cannot continue to ignore Pakistan’s role in sponsoring terror. Enough is enough.”

Prominent senior community figure Hari Bhai Patel remarked, “Today’s rally is not just about anger—it’s about hope: hope that the world will finally listen and act.”

Santosh Kumar representing several cultural organizations passionately said, “When humanity is under attack, silence is complicity. We refuse to be silent. We stand for every innocent life lost.”

Nirmala Reddy, a leading voice for women in Chicago’s Indian-American community, condemned Pakistan’s ongoing sponsorship of cross-border terrorism and urged immediate international action.

Nirav Patel from the U.S.-India Community Foundation noted, “We stand united across generations. This is a call for justice and the protection of basic human rights in Kashmir and beyond.”

Community organizer and Chicago Kali Bari founder Dr. Ram Chakraborty concluded, “Terrorism affects everyone. Justice is not optional—it is essential for peace.”

A deeply moving protest with cross-community solidarity

The protest was remarkable not only for its size—over 800 participants—but also for its dignified and determined atmosphere. Leaders and activists such as Nirav Patel, Amitabh Mittal, Harinder Mangrola, Joy Shah, Nirmala Reddy, Veer Sharma, Dr. Ram Chakraborty, Rakesh Malhotra, Shailesh Rajput, Yogesh Shah, Anil Singh, Abhinav Raina, Vinesh Virani, Santosh Kumar, Hemant Patel, Harish Kolasani, Iftekhar Sharif, Arvind Anklesaria, Amar Upadhyay, Avi Verma, Rohit Joshi, Prasad Athanikar, Radhika Garimella, Phani Krishnan, Girish Kapur, Hari Bhai Patel, Devesh Pandit, Sunil Shah, Dinkar Karmuri, Sarath Yettapu, and many others stood shoulder to shoulder.
Importantly, while the majority of the protestors were Hindu, a few members of the Muslim community also joined, highlighting the universal threat posed by terrorism. As one observer noted, “Imagine the reverse scenario—what would have happened then?”—a powerful reminder of the courage it took for those individuals to stand for human rights, regardless of religious affiliation.

The protest was a response to an atrocity in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where 28 innocent civilians were reportedly singled out based on their religious identity—Hindu or Christian—and executed after being asked their names.
This shocking brutality reinforced the protestors’ call: when terrorism is driven by religious ideology, it becomes a global threat to peace, tolerance, and pluralism.

Voices from the frontlines

Hemant Patel captured the community’s outrage succinctly, “If names are being asked before killing, maybe it’s time to identify names before shopping! Do not pay your money to destroy your family, dharma, and country.”
Dr. Avi Verma, Publisher of IndoUS Tribune and Secretary of the Federation of Indian Associations, praised the protest as a powerful expression of civic unity and moral courage.

“This well-organized and strongly supported rally reflects the resilience and determination of over 800 Indian-American citizens of Chicago in 75 degree temperatures.We stand united in demanding justice for the victims of the Pahalgam massacre and holding Pakistan accountable for sponsoring terrorism. It is time the Government of India builds a global coalition—just as the United States once did against Iraq—to expose and isolate Pakistan for its continued role in promoting, sheltering, and exporting terror. The world cannot afford to look away any longer.”

A call to the world

The protestors made it clear: The threat is not to just one faith, one nation, or one group—it is a threat to the very idea of humanity, peace, and coexistence.
It is time for decisive global action before more lives are lost to senseless, ideology-driven violence.