By “I got my second juice offer!” DJ Rekha beamed as they walked toward a group of political canvassers huddled on an Upper Darby street. “That’s my success measurer.”
Hundreds of people predominantly of South Asian descent fanned out in areas of Upper Darby with high concentrations of South Asians on Sunday to motivate the community to vote on Tuesday. Organized by the nationwide nonprofit Indian American Impact, Sunday’s political canvassing stressed one major point to every person who answered the door: Your vote matters, and can make a difference in this election.
“We can make the margin in Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona, Texas — all of these states,” said Neil Makhija, executive director of Impact. “And until recently, there has not been any South Asian-focused voter turnout efforts. So we’re finally building that.”
Some Upper Darby residents opened their front doors to find Rekha, known for founding Basement Banghra, an annual dance party in NYC that popularized the fusion of traditional Indian bhangra music with hip hop, in New York City; model and television host Padma Lakshmi; lawyer and activist Meena Harris; and U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the first Indian American woman elected to Congress.
The sheer volume and prominence of volunteers, who traveled near and far for the event, demonstrated the nationwide importance of Pennsylvania’s open Senate seat, which could play a role in determining which party controls the Senate.
Until recently, there has not been any South Asian-focused voter turnout efforts. So we’re finally building that,” said Neil Makhija, executive director of Indian American Impact
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