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The Unstoppable Force: 5 Major DRUM (Desis Rising Up And Moving) Campaigns Shaking Up NYC In 2025

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Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) is not just an acronym; it is a powerful, multi-generational, membership-led organization that has been the frontline voice for low-wage South Asian and Indo-Caribbean immigrants, workers, and youth in New York City since its founding in 2000. As of late December 2025, the organization continues to be a pivotal force in the fight for social and economic justice, driving high-impact campaigns that directly challenge systemic oppression in areas from immigrant rights to police accountability.

The name itself, "DRUM," symbolizes the collective rhythm and momentum of a community mobilizing for change, and in 2024 and 2025, that beat has grown louder than ever. Their work is rooted in base building and leadership development, ensuring that the people most affected by issues like immigrant rights, education reform, and civil rights are the ones leading the charge for justice. Their recent activities highlight a tenacious commitment to challenging powerful institutions and advocating for the most vulnerable members of their community.

DRUM: A Profile of Power and Persistence

DRUM—Desis Rising Up and Moving—is a crucial entity in the New York City social justice landscape. It is an organization built by and for the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean working class community, focusing on building power to win concrete victories against injustice.

  • Full Name: DRUM - Desis Rising Up & Moving (sometimes referred to as Drum Desis Rising Up and Moving Inc.)
  • Founded: 2000
  • Location: Primarily based in New York City (NYC), with a strong presence in areas like Jackson Heights, Queens.
  • Mission: To build the power of South Asian and Indo-Caribbean low-wage immigrant workers, youth, and families in New York City to win social and economic justice.
  • Membership: A multi-generational, membership-led organization with over 1,800 low-wage South Asian immigrant workers, youth, and families.
  • Target Community: Low-income South Asian and Indo-Caribbean immigrants (including those from countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Guyana, Trinidad, etc.).
  • Key Areas of Focus: Immigrant Rights, Education Reform, Civil Rights, Workers' Rights, and Global Justice.

The organization’s structure is built on four core programs that address the multifaceted challenges faced by its members, ensuring a holistic approach to community empowerment and systemic change. These programs are the engine behind DRUM's successful campaigns.

The Four Pillars of DRUM’s Justice Movement

DRUM’s strategic impact is channeled through four distinct but interconnected programs, each targeting a specific area of oppression and community need. This comprehensive approach allows them to address issues from local police misconduct to national immigration policy.

1. The Racial & Immigrant Justice Program

This program is at the heart of DRUM’s advocacy, focusing heavily on fighting for immigrant rights and challenging discriminatory practices. The program has been instrumental in the fight against unjust deportations, advocating for comprehensive immigration reform, and providing legal defense and community support through projects like the Azaadi Legal Defense Project.

In 2024 and 2025, this program has been particularly active in national policy, including their involvement in a November 2024 letter to President Joe Biden, alongside other groups in the Detention Watch Network, advocating for changes to detention and deportation policies. Their consistent challenge to lawmakers and engagement with elected officials demonstrates their commitment to legislative change.

2. YouthPower!

Recognizing the critical role of the next generation, YouthPower! is DRUM’s youth organizing arm. It mobilizes South Asian and Indo-Caribbean youth to become leaders in their schools and communities. The program focuses on education reform, fighting for culturally relevant curricula, and challenging the school-to-prison pipeline.

A notable victory for DRUM has been winning new guidelines from the NYC Department of Education to add moderate protections for students, a direct result of their advocacy for a safer and more equitable educational environment. YouthPower! members are often at the forefront of local demonstrations and community meetings, ensuring youth voices shape the movement.

3. The South Asian Workers Center

This center is dedicated to organizing and empowering low-wage South Asian and Indo-Caribbean workers who often face exploitation in industries like retail, domestic work, and taxi driving. The program focuses on wage theft, unsafe working conditions, and the right to organize.

By providing resources, organizing campaigns, and fighting for fair labor practices, the Workers Center ensures that economic justice is central to DRUM’s overall mission. Their work is vital for a community disproportionately represented in the low-wage sector of the NYC economy.

4. The Global Justice Program

DRUM understands that local struggles are often connected to global forces. The Global Justice Program works to connect the struggles of immigrants in NYC with social and economic justice movements in South Asia and the Indo-Caribbean region, promoting solidarity and a broader understanding of global inequalities.

High-Impact Campaigns: DRUM’s 2024-2025 Frontline Battles

The organization’s presence in 2024 and 2025 has been marked by several high-stakes campaigns, demonstrating their role as a critical watchdog and advocate in New York City and beyond. These efforts showcase their focus on police accountability, political engagement, and defending immigrant communities from national threats.

1. Pushing for NYPD Accountability and Misconduct Charges

A major focus for DRUM in 2025 has been the persistent fight for police accountability. The organization, alongside partners like the Justice Committee and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), has been actively pushing the New York Police Department (NYPD) to serve misconduct charges on officers accused of abuse. This effort was highlighted by a mention of a 2025 Daily News Op-Ed and an updated partnership with CCR as recently as October 2025 regarding NYPD stop-and-frisk practices.

This campaign is a direct response to the disproportionate impact of policing on communities of color, including South Asian and Indo-Caribbean individuals. By demanding transparency and consequences for misconduct, DRUM is working to safeguard the civil rights of its members and the broader community.

2. Challenging Project 2025’s Anti-Immigrant Agenda

In a significant national advocacy effort, DRUM has been vocal in challenging the anti-immigrant and anti-democratic plans associated with "Project 2025." The organization has initiated community meetings and publicly challenged lawmakers on the potential for immigrant injustice under this agenda, which threatens to dismantle protections and expand enforcement.

This proactive stance demonstrates DRUM’s understanding that local community protection requires engagement with national political threats. Their efforts to raise awareness and organize against these plans are crucial for preparing and protecting their community from potential federal policy shifts.

3. Political Mobilization and Solidarity with NYC-DSA

DRUM is a key player in the progressive political landscape of New York City. The organization has shown its political muscle by supporting progressive candidates and working in coalition with groups like the New York City Democratic Socialists of America (NYC-DSA). For instance, DRUM was a visible presence at a launch event for Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani in 2024, a notable figure in the Queens South Asian community.

This political mobilization ensures that the specific needs and concerns of low-wage South Asian and Indo-Caribbean immigrants are represented in city and state government, moving beyond traditional political engagement to build a powerful, progressive voting bloc.

4. Expanding Educational and Civil Rights Protections

Building on past victories, DRUM continues to work on expanding civil rights, particularly in educational settings. Their focus on the NYC Department of Education involves advocating for policies that prevent discrimination and ensure equitable access to resources for immigrant students and their families. This includes fighting for moderate protections for students, a testament to their long-term commitment to systemic education reform.

The organization's sustained advocacy ensures that the children of low-wage immigrant workers have the opportunity to thrive without fear of profiling or discrimination within the public school system.

5. Coalition Building for Collective Liberation

DRUM’s impact is amplified by its commitment to coalition work. The organization is a recognized member of various national and local networks, including the Detention Watch Network, the Coalition for Civil Freedoms (CCF), and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA).

By working in solidarity with a diverse range of organizations—from the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) to the Justice Committee—DRUM ensures that the struggle of South Asian and Indo-Caribbean immigrants is integrated into the broader movement for racial, immigrant, and economic justice across New York City and the United States. This collective action is the true meaning of "rising up and moving."

The Unstoppable Force: 5 Major DRUM (Desis Rising Up and Moving) Campaigns Shaking Up NYC in 2025
drum desis rising up and moving
drum desis rising up and moving

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