On Dec. 18, the Arts4All Foundation and Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) hosted the Peace For All Rally at the U.S. Capitol, calling for an end to the violence and persecution of minorities in Bangladesh. The rally highlighted the rising extremism and human rights abuses in the country, particularly against vulnerable groups such as indigenous and religious minorities. Community leaders, including Holocaust survivors, gathered to demand immediate action from the U.S. Congress to prevent further atrocities and genocide.
Since July, Bangladesh has witnessed a sharp increase in violence, including the misuse of the legal system for political purposes, the imprisonment of religious leaders, and attacks on religious and ethnic minorities. The situation has led to hundreds of deaths and displaced tens of thousands. The rally’s message was clear: there is an urgent need for global collaboration to de-escalate tensions, halt the imprisonment and persecution of minorities, and ensure peace in the region.
Dr. Sumita SenGupta, founder of the Arts4All Foundation, stressed the importance of protecting universal freedoms and ensuring global stability. Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann compared the escalating violence in Bangladesh to the early years of Nazi Germany, calling for a united effort to prevent history from repeating itself.
Rep. Thanedar also emphasized the urgency of addressing the crisis and proposed several immediate steps, including humanitarian protection for persecuted minorities, Congressional oversight, and targeted sanctions against perpetrators. Other speakers, such as Sachi Dastidar and Utsav Chakrabarti, discussed the ongoing persecution of indigenous Hindu Bangladeshis, stressing the need for peace and unity among all communities in Bangladesh.
