Canadian poet Rupi Kaur declined an invitation from the Biden administration to a Diwali event, citing her objection to the US government’s support for Israel during the Gaza bombardment.
In a statement, she expressed her refusal to participate in any institution endorsing the collective punishment of a civilian population, especially children.
As a Sikh woman, Kaur emphasized her commitment to holding the administration accountable and not allowing her image to be used to downplay their actions. She also urged the South Asian community to join in this call for accountability and emphasized the importance of demanding a humanitarian ceasefire when governments engage in dehumanizing actions worldwide.