A community comes together in sadness under the shadow of the famous monuments in Washington, DC. In a mournful tribute to lives brutally taken in a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, they march in a quiet procession with their heads down and flowers in shaky hands.

“We came with heavy hearts today,” mutters Priya, a DMV resident, whose voice is cracking as she recalls the terrible days when she and other Kashmiri Hindus were compelled to leave the Kashmiri valley while holding a picture of one of the victims.

The National Capital Region, which includes the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, is referred to as the DMV.

“I want to ensure that what has been occurring to Kashmiri Hindus for decades is finally acknowledged by the world. Many Kashmiris are with me here. Despite being shot at close range, we continue to fabricate tales and circulate erroneous information that they just happened to be in the line of fire. No, they didn’t. They were picked out. She responded, “They were identified.”

The Kalma was to be recited by them. In front of the Muslims, they were instructed to take their trousers down. This is a terrible moment, so please. “Allow humanity to awaken,” she continued.

The Indian American community in the United States has been rocked by the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir. In a heartfelt show of support and remembering, a few dozen mourners gathered at the National Monument in Washington, DC, on Sunday afternoon before marching to the Lincoln Memorial.

As the procession proceeded, American, Indian, and saffron flags flapped side by side in the spring wind, representing identities and lives that crossed continents yet were bound together in sorrow.

The Washington, DC vigil is just one of many that have been held recently around the DMV region and, in fact, the whole United States. Community gatherings, candlelight vigils, and prayer sessions have evolved into forums for group grieving and introspection.

Despite the distance, many guests find the assault to be quite personal.

Another protester denounced the Pahalgam terror attack in an interview with ANI, stating, “I am here to voice against the tragedy that happened in the Kashmir valley. Hindus were singled out and murdered. It was awful. The moment to speak out against this has come.

The names of the victims are read out loud as the sun warms the city, and each one is followed by a prolonged period of quiet.

Dr. Mohan Sapru, another protester, said that the primary goal of the event is to “awaken the conscience of humanity” and “awaken the conscience of America,” in response to the terror assault in Pahalgam.

“To commemorate the slaughter of Hindus in Pahalgam a few days ago, we Kashmiris and all Hindu groups are assembling at the historic Washington, DC Monument here. “We are here primarily to awaken the conscience of America and the conscience of humanity,” he said.

“This (the terror attack in Pahalgam) is a very tragic incident,” a college student remarks. I made the decision to come here today, join the others, and pay my respects to the victims.”

Kashmiri Pandit Swapna Raina spoke about her personal experiences and the hardships facing her people. “I’m here because I went through hardship, and we were singled out because of our faith,” she added. My granddad was shot after being targeted. Because he was also a Hindu, he was singled out (in Kashmir). A number of nightmares returned on April 22.

We Hindus from Kashmir are going through the same thing, experiencing the terrible events that have occurred over the years. We were told to prepare for death, flee, or convert to Islam. Over 400,000 Kashmiri Hindus left their houses in the course of the night.

“I am here speaking on behalf of all Kashmiri Hindus who are still facing all the false narratives that are being spread,” Raina said, highlighting the need of bringing attention to the hardships faced by Kashmiri Hindus. We are still being asked to provide evidence that we were really affected. To be honest, our eyes have stopped sobbing and our heart is bleeding.

“April 22nd was not supposed to occur. Humanity is being slapped in the face. We must put an end to Islamic terrorism. All religions must be understood, accepted, and respected. I’m here to attempt to raise awareness and expose the truth and facts because I believe that no one should perish because of their beliefs. Before being shot at close range, innocent victims trapped in a fire were required to provide identification and proof of their religious views,” she said.

Their message—a call for peace in a world where violence still casts long shadows across borders and seas alike—remains when the group inevitably disperses.

Tourists were the target of the April 22 terror assault in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, including one Nepalese person. The victims were shot dead close to Baisaran Meadow, one of the area’s most visited tourist attractions.

Since the Pulwama assault in 2019, which claimed the lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans, this incident ranks among the bloodiest in the area.