Afghan-Americans Protest at WH: “One Individual Not Represent Entire Community”

DID Press: A group of Afghan-Americans, including many from the Hazara community, held a protest gathering outside the White House, urging the Trump administration not to blame or punish an entire community for the actions of one individual. The demonstration followed heightened scrutiny of Afghanistan nationals in the U.S. after a recent shooting in Washington and the arrest of several other Afghan nationals on terrorism-related charges.

Organizers stressed that “criminal responsibility is individual” and that no nation, ethnic group, or migrant community should be targeted collectively.

Migrant-rights advocates — including Matthew Soerens and Shawn VanDiver — warned that an atmosphere of fear is spreading, emphasizing that “one person cannot represent millions of Afghans.”

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, also said that while any criminal should be held accountable, the Afghan community as a whole must not be made to suffer. Refugee-support groups likewise condemned the Washington incident but said collective suspicion and stigmatization of an entire community are deeply concerning.