Demonstrators organized by Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (ASATA) protest in front of the Madras Pasand Cuisine in Berkeley, owned by Lakireddy Bali Reddy.
Reddy pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring since 1986 to illegally bring aliens into the United States from India by submitting false visa applications. He was also charged with transporting minors in foreign commerce for sexual activity. The investigation was prompted by the death of a young Indian girl brought to the U.S. using fraudulent immigration papers. In June 2001, Lakireddy was sentenced to serve 8 years in prison and to pay $2 million to the young victims.
"The Reddy case has served as a wake-up call to the South Asian American community and the Bay Area that trafficking women and girls is a huge and growing problem in our country and throughout the world. The fight against trafficking requires the involvement of im-migrant communities, including the South Asian American community. South Asian and immigrant grass roots activists are mobilizing against trafficking by ensuring that victims of trafficking have access to community support and legal representation." -- Jayashri Srikantiah, lawyer, ACLU of Northern California
Sevadars of the Gurdwara Sahib are given H1-B visas to minister to the growing Sikh community in Silicon Valley.
Talent audition for the First Annual NetIP-SF Bay Area Talent Night before a panel of jurors. The talent show will benefit various community causes that the Network of Indian Professionals-San Francisco Bay Area Chapter supports.
Mothers of high-tech Indian professionals attend a once-a-week yoga class at the Indo-American Community Service Center in Santa Clara.
"As the only language and cultural sensitive community center for Indo-Americans in the Bay Area, folks often travel 50 miles and sometimes three buses to reach us for programs. It is a joy to see folks with a lighter step and a smile leaving their 'home away from home' and itps good for the whole family when we connect youth with seniors." -- Sam Rao, executive director.
Members of Trikone, an organization of gay and lesbian South Asians, celebrate Gay Pride Day in San Francisco in June 2001.
*All original photos were 20" x 16" gelatin silver prints.