Religion Team reporter Deepa Bharath’s story on the contentious ripple effects of India’s caste system among the South Asian diaspora in the U.S. was an all-formats effort, pegged to Seattle becoming the first city in the U.S. to ban caste-based discrimination.
California-based Bharath, with extensive contacts in the South Asian community, learned that Seattle’s city council was considering an ordinance that would make the city the first outside South Asia to outlaw caste-based discrimination. This became the peg for an in-depth story with Bharath staffing the stormy Seattle council meeting where the ordinance was adopted, along with Seattle video journalist Manual Valdes and freelance photographer John Froschauer. Valdes made sure he captured the charged atmosphere and diverse voices.
Seattle becomes first US city to ban discrimination based on caste
Thenmozhi Soundararajan, founder and executive director of Equality Labs, speaks to supporters and opponents a of a proposed ordinance to add caste to Seattle’s anti-discrimination laws rally at Seattle City Hall, Feb. 21, 2023, in Seattle.
AP Photo/John Froschauer