JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS — Filipino‑American community leaders joined Assemblymember Steven Raga in Jackson Heights this week as he renewed calls for New York State to add caste‑based discrimination protections to its civil‑rights laws. The rally drew South Asian, Southeast Asian, and interfaith advocates who say caste bias—though often invisible to the broader public—continues to affect workers, tenants, and students across the state.
Raga, the first Filipino American elected to the New York State Assembly, told supporters that the legislation is about ensuring “every New Yorker is treated with dignity, regardless of background or heritage.”
“No one in New York should face discrimination, exclusion, or humiliation because of caste. From our
neighbors in Queens to communities across the state, people are facing discrimination in housing, in the
workplace, and in public life without clear protection under the law,” Raga said. “That is why we are helping lead this fight, bringing together a broad coalition, and pushing this bill forward in Albany.”
For many Fil‑Ams in Queens, the rally underscored the community’s long‑standing commitment to human rights and solidarity with other marginalized groups.
Fil‑Ams Join Broader Coalition for Equity
Fil‑Am civic groups from Queens, Woodside, and Elmhurst—neighborhoods with some of the highest Filipino populations in the Northeast—joined the rally, saying the issue resonates with their own histories of discrimination and migration. Organizers noted that Filipino Americans have often stood alongside South Asian and Dalit‑rights advocates in national campaigns for caste equity.
Advocates pointed to national momentum, including Seattle’s 2023 ordinance banning caste discrimination and California’s 2023 bill that sought to add caste as a protected category. Equality Labs, a Dalit‑rights organization, said in a 2024 statement that “caste‑oppressed people in the U.S. continue to face discrimination in education, employment, and housing,” urging states like New York to act.
Raga emphasized that the bill he is championing does not target any religion or ethnicity. Instead, he said, it strengthens existing anti‑discrimination laws and provides clarity for victims who currently lack explicit legal protections.
Faith and Community Leaders Call for Action
Faith leaders from Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim communities joined the rally, reflecting the broad coalition behind the proposal. Many described caste‑based bias as a “silent” form of discrimination that can manifest through workplace exclusion, harassment, or social segregation.
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who has previously supported caste protections, said in a 2023 statement that “discrimination in any form must be confronted directly, and caste‑based bias is no exception.”
Fil‑Am clergy and community organizers at the rally said the legislation aligns with Filipino values of equality and shared struggle, noting that many Filipino immigrants have experienced their own forms of social hierarchy and labor exploitation.
Next Steps in Albany and the Fil‑Am Role
Raga said he will continue working with colleagues in the Assembly and Senate to advance the measure this session. He urged New Yorkers—especially immigrant communities—to contact their representatives and “stand with those who have waited far too long for recognition and protection.”
Fil‑Am organizations plan to hold follow‑up forums in Queens and Manhattan to educate community members about the bill and mobilize support.
