In February 2017, just weeks after the inauguration of former President Donald Trump, Adam Purinton walked into a bar in Olathe, Kansas. He reportedly shouted, “Get out of my country!” and “terrorist” before he fired a gun and killed Srinivas Kuchibhotla, a 32-year-old Indian engineer who worked at Garmin. Two others were wounded.
As Sunayana Dumala traveled to India for her husband’s funeral, she shared on social media the couple’s hopes for the future and the tragic way Kuchibhotla’s life was cut short. She also wondered if the United States was still a hospitable place to live and asked, “Do we belong here?”
The 2018 documentary, Do We Belong?, directed by Sofian Khan, explores the impact of this hate crime on Kuchibhotla’s family and the international community. The Library will screen the 14-minute film followed by facilitated small group conversations and a reception.
Dumala, who continues to focus her efforts on fighting discrimination, will be in attendance. Her nonprofit organization, Forever Welcome, raises awareness about the contributions of immigrants and facilitates dialogue to create more inclusive communities across the United States.
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