By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – “Stop Hate Together.”

That was the title and message of a rally inside the Hansen Student Center at Illinois Wesleyan University Thursday. The effort offered a particular voice to Bloomington-Normal’s South Asian community.

Archana Shekara estimates there are about 5,000 South Asians in the community.

“We need to tell our stories just like everyone else,” said Shekara. “I feel like today is the first time in our community that we, South Asians, came forward and shared our stories.”

Not In Our Town hosted the event, which featured thoughts from both Bloomington and Normal’s mayors, police chiefs, students, and many other Twin Cities residents.

Shekara explained there have been some incidents involving South Asians in Bloomington-Normal, which is partially why this rally was put together. One such incident was at a local car dealership.

“I’m not going to talk about which dealership. There was a car dealership they went to. And then the salesman says, ‘Well if you want to have good deals, go back to India. Go back to your country where you can get good deals,'” Shekara said.

Shekara added Bloomington-Normal is a diverse community and everyone needs to embrace that.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].