Indian American supporters borrow Modi slogan for Biden-Harris rally.
Even as Indian American supporters of Democratic Biden-Harris presidential ticket borrowed an election slogan of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, another campaign with ‘MyNameIs’ and ‘IstandwithKamala’ hashtags went viral on the social media.
“Abki Baar Biden Sarkaar,†(this time Biden government) said an Indian American supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his Indian origin running mate Kamala Harris copying a Modi slogan at a Get out the Vote (GOTV) rally in California on Sunday.
It’s very important to vote for Biden and Harris for the future of this and the next generation of Indian Americans and “fulfill our†American dream, said hotelier Ashok Bhatt at the rally organized by entrepreneur couple Ajay and Vinita Bhutoria.
Meanwhile ‘MyNameIs’ and ‘IstandwithKamala’ campaign went viral after Georgia Republican senator David Perdue seemed to mock Harris’ name at a rally of President Donald Trump in Macon, Georgia, on Friday.
“KAH’-mah-lah? Kah-MAH’-lah? Kamala-mala-mala? I don’t know,†said Perdue instead of “comma-lah†as Harris has repeatedly said her first name is pronounced.
“I’ll keep it simple: If you can pronounce ‘former’ Senator David Perdue, you can pronounce ‘future’ vice-president Kamala Harris, †said Harris spokesperson Sabrina Singh
A Perdue spokesperson denied he had intentionally mocked Harris’ name, saying he simply mispronounced the name, and he didn’t mean anything by it.
Amit Jani, the Asian American and Pacific Islander Outreach Coordinator of the Biden campaign, launched the ‘My name is’ campaign to “push back against the bigotryâ€.
Several people responded by posting the meaning of their names along with the hashtags.
Preet Bharara, former Indian American District Attorney for the southern district of New York tweeted, “#MyName is Preet, which means love.â€
Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna tweeted, “#MyNameIs Rohit, and my friends call me Ro. It means bright light in Sanskrit.â€
#MyNameIs Rohit, and my friends call me Ro. It means bright light in Sanskrit. This election, #IWillVote for an inclusive America by voting for @joebiden & @kamalaharris
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) October 17, 2020
Indian American lawmaker Pramila Jaipal said her name comes from the Sanskrit word “premâ€, which means love. “Let’s build an inclusive America. Vote #BidenHarris2020,†she tweeted
#MyNameIs Pramila. It comes from the Sanskrit word “prem†which means love. The name is constantly mispronounced as is my last name. I only mind that when it is done willfully and continuously. Let’s build an inclusive America. Vote #BidenHarris2020. Our vote, our power.
— Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) October 18, 2020
Back at the rally, Bhatt stressed the importance of over 1.3 million Indian American voters in the battleground states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida and Nevada.
“It is important for all of us to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,†said Bhutoria appealing to all Indian Americans in battleground states.
Mahesh Nihalani, senior community leader, said Biden and Harris are strong proponents of India-US relationship. “Abki Baar Biden Sarkaar,†he added borrowing the Modi slogan as some Trump supporters had done last time.
Meanwhile, Trump wished Harris “the best” and hoped that she was “in good shape” after an aide and a flight crew member in Biden campaign tested covid positive.
“I hope she’s in good shape, because a number of people in her group have caught covid-19, so we all wish her best,†he was quoted as saying by The Hill at an election rally in Muskegon, Michigan.
“Do we all wish her best? Yes, we do. We hope she’s doing well,” he added.
Following the positive cases, Harris had suspended her campaign travel as a precaution for the weekend. The California Senator and her husband underwent covid tests and were found negative.
Here are some prominent people of color who tweeted with the hashtag #MyNameIs:
#MyNameIs Preet, which means love. https://t.co/JSO0zB77aR
— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) October 17, 2020
#MyNameIs Hari Kondabolu. Hari. Not Harry. Kondabolu. Not “I’m just going to say K.â€
Here’s a pronunciation guide. https://t.co/ZVlknrcJp6
— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) October 19, 2020
A Word #MyNameIs pic.twitter.com/2GoA2R0yI0
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) October 18, 2020
#MyNameIs Vanita, which means beloved woman. https://t.co/EQdA3SadBW
— Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) October 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/meenaharris/status/1317524204376354816
#MyNameIs Ilham, I prefer Ilhan. I never liked the M sound 😜. It means “Inspiration” in Arabic. My father named me Ilham and inspired me to lead a life of service to others.
In his honor I am voting for an inspirational ticket over desperate and maddening one. https://t.co/jSiatHsj2X
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 17, 2020
#MyNameIs Ted W. Lieu. The “W†is short for “Win-Ping†which in Mandarin means Cloud of Peace.
Also, make sure you vote. And if you are voting by mail, don’t forget the stupid secrecy envelope if your state requires it.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) October 17, 2020