AAPI Legislators’ Statement on India Day Parade Bulldozer

Joint statement from Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (Chair, Joint Asian Pacific American Caucus), Senator Vin Gopal (Vice Chair, Joint Asian Pacific American Caucus), Assemblywoman Shama Haider, Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer, and Assemblywoman Ellen Park:

“We condemn the inclusion of a bulldozer in Edison’s 2022 India Day Parade and stand with and applaud Mayor Sam Joshi for offering to take steps to ensure an incident like this does not recur. We also note that it was a privately organized and not municipally sponsored event.

“On the most auspicious occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day and the 75th anniversary of U.S.-India diplomatic relations, the bulldozer – which has unfortunately become a symbol of division and hate based on reports of celebrations of Muslim homes being demolished – has cast a shadow over the parade and distressed New Jersey’s vibrant Indian Muslim community and others. We celebrate New Jersey’s rich diversity and the South Asian American presence in our state and our Legislature, and we are dedicated to an inclusive, welcoming, and safe New Jersey for all.”