Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM)

Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM)
Name	Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM)
Founded	1999
Founders	[See text]
Location	New York City, United States
Focus	South Asian American advocacy, labor rights, immigrant rights

Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) is a grassroots community organization founded in New York City in 1999 that mobilizes South Asian immigrants around labor, immigrant justice, and anti-racist struggles. It emerged from neighborhood-based activism and coalition-building among South Asian New Yorkers, engaging with unions, faith communities, and national advocacy networks to pursue policy change and direct service strategies. DRUM is known for blending cultural organizing with tenant campaigns, workplace actions, and electoral advocacy.

History and Formation

DRUM was formed in the context of late-1990s New York activism influenced by events and organizations such as the aftermath of the 1995 World Trade Organization protests, the organizing traditions of Industrial Workers of the World, and the community networks of South Asian Americans Leading Together. Founding members drew on experiences from neighborhood work in Jackson Heights, Queens, immigrant worker campaigns in Queens County, and solidarity efforts with groups like United Federation of Teachers and Service Employees International Union. Early alliances included collaborations with Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Make the Road New York, and faith-based organizations such as Sikh Coalition congregations and Hindu American Foundation-adjacent community centers. DRUM’s formation also responded to high-profile incidents affecting South Asians in the United States, including the 1993 protests following police actions in Crown Heights and broader debates after the 1998 Asian American activist gatherings.

Mission, Goals, and Ideology

DRUM’s mission centers on empowering South Asian and immigrant communities through worker organizing, tenant defense, and anti-racist advocacy, drawing ideological influences from histories represented by Cesar Chavez, Ella Baker, and global movements like Solidarity (Poland). The organization frames its goals around justice for low-wage workers, housing rights in boroughs such as Manhattan and Brooklyn, and anti-discrimination campaigns in partnership with groups like National Immigration Law Center and American Civil Liberties Union. DRUM’s ideological orientation aligns with community-led direct action and coalition politics evident in campaigns by AFL–CIO, Industrial Areas Foundation, and grassroots networks including Right to the City, while incorporating cultural strategies inspired by artists associated with Pennsylvania Avenue-style public performance and diasporic cultural producers.

Campaigns and Activities

DRUM has run campaigns addressing workplace exploitation in industries tied to South Asian laborers, organizing actions similar in tactic to campaigns by Fight for $15, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, and UNITE HERE. It has conducted tenant struggles echoing practices from Tenants Union campaigns in New York City public housing and partnered with legal clinics like Lawyers for Good Government-style groups. DRUM engaged in voter mobilization efforts comparable to those of New York Immigration Coalition and participated in municipal advocacy around policing and surveillance, intersecting with movements aligned with Black Lives Matter activists and civil liberties groups such as Human Rights Watch. Cultural and educational programs included South Asian cultural nights and workshops resembling initiatives by Smithsonian Institution-linked community folklife programs and diaspora arts projects hosted by institutions like Queens Museum.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

DRUM’s structure reflects grassroots democratic practices found in organizations such as Democratic Socialists of America chapters and community boards like Community Board 3 (Manhattan), with rotating leadership, volunteer committees, and trained organizers. Leadership has included former tenant organizers, labor coordinators, and cultural directors who have worked alongside partners from New York City Council offices and advocacy staff trained in models developed by Barnard Center for Research on Women and Urban Justice Center. DRUM emphasizes member-led decision-making processes similar to those used by Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán and training curricula influenced by popular education methods from Paulo Freire-inspired programs.

Community Impact and Partnerships

DRUM’s community impact is visible in campaigns that improved conditions for immigrant workers in corridors connecting Queens and Manhattan, collaborations with unions such as SEIU Local 32BJ, and partnerships with legal service providers like Legal Aid Society. It has worked with faith leaders from Sikh Coalition congregations, cultural institutions including Asia Society, and advocacy coalitions such as Make the Road New York and New York Immigration Coalition to expand outreach, bilingual services, and civic engagement among South Asian constituencies. DRUM’s alliances with citywide networks facilitated influence on policy discussions in New York City Hall and contributed to broader organizing efforts alongside groups like Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

Criticism and Controversies

DRUM has faced criticism similar to that leveled at other grassroots organizations, including debates over representation and tactics voiced by local political figures and community stakeholders linked to Queens Borough President offices and neighborhood associations. Controversies have arisen around coalition priorities compared with those of established organizations such as Indian American Forum for Political Education and disagreements with some ethnic media outlets and community leaders associated with South Asian Times coverage. Critics have at times questioned DRUM’s approaches to electoral endorsements and public demonstrations, echoing tensions familiar from disputes involving Progressive Caucus-aligned groups and immigrant advocacy organizations.

Legacy and Influence on South Asian American Activism

DRUM’s legacy includes influencing a generation of South Asian American organizers who have moved into roles at institutions like Make the Road New York, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and municipal offices in New York City. Its blend of labor, tenant, and cultural organizing informed strategies adopted by newer groups such as South Asian Americans Leading Together and local chapters of national movements including Black Lives Matter-aligned coalitions. DRUM’s model contributed to the professionalization of South Asian diaspora organizing, informing curricula at community training centers and inspiring cross-ethnic solidarity initiatives mirrored in campaigns by Coalition for the Homeless and other urban justice organizations.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in New York City Category:South Asian American organizations