While her peers brushed up on AP U.S. Government and Politics, 17-year-old Anusha Chinthalapale spent the afternoon of May 21 on the steps of the Supreme Court. Chinthalapale joined one of 500 simultaneous rallies across America that day denouncing the surge of anti-abortion legislation in states like Alabama, Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri.
notes that sex-selective abortion bans, in place in 11 states, operate on the racist belief that Asian immigrants prefer male children, and disproportionately restrict access.“I come from a community that has, for so many decades, staunchly poured more resources, time and ambitions into STEM. Because of years of subconscious stereotyping, people don’t perceive South Asians as politically inclined. But this field affects me, and people like me, the most.
In January, Chinthalapale became a part of the Women’s March Youth Empower cohort, a panel of 14 students leading events and initiatives hosted by the youth-centric segment of the organization on the national level. At the 2019 Women’s March, she conceptualized and organized the Youth Wave event held the day before, attended by roughly 60 students.
“Anusha’s work is important in this current political climate,” said Tabitha St. Barnard, director of community engagement at Women’s March, “because we need the voices of young people of color to lead the way. As part of Women’s March, Anusha is a strong, tenacious voice for young brown women. She is also a fierce ally to other directly impacted communities.”