Human Rights Coalition Celebrates Dr. Kapoor

On Dec. 7, at the Fresno State Library, the Human Rights Coalition of the Central Valley (HRCCV) celebrated the work of Dr. Sudarshan Kapoor during its annual gathering. Dr. Kapoor is retiring from the leadership of the Coalition. Speakers at the event included Dr. Saúl Jiménez Sandoval, president of Fresno State; Dr. Daniel O’Connell, representing Visalia Friends Meeting; Bernadette D. Vasquez, co-chair of the HRCCV; and civil rights icon Dolores Huerta (via Zoom).

“Dr. Kapoor has been an unwavering leader in promoting nonviolence and peaceful protest in the San Joaquin Valley,” noted Huerta. “As a mentor and teacher to so many, he has instilled the practices and philosophy of nonviolence, serving as a guiding light for countless individuals.

“Dr. Kapoor has played a pivotal role in preserving and promoting the legacy of peace leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Cesar Chavez through Fresno State’s Peace Garden. By ensuring their presence remains central in the heart of the Central Valley—an area in such great need of these values—he has reinforced the importance of peace and justice in our community.”

Dr. Kapoor, who founded the HRCCV, spoke about the history of the organization and his vision of peace and cooperation. Here are some of his remarks:

“The idea of the Human Rights Coalition was born while I was teaching in the Peace and Conflict Studies Program at CSU Fresno. Human rights occupy a major place in the syllabus of the academic courses in peace studies.

“Though I was quite familiar with human rights/civil rights through the works and struggles of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez, it was during the teaching of human rights in the academic program that I discovered the work and contributions of Eleanor Roosevelt, who was called by President Truman [the] First Lady of the World.

“Eleanor Roosevelt stands at the top of the list of world leaders who have made significant contributions to the development of human rights globally. As head of the Human Rights Commission, she presented the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) document to the General Assembly of the United Nations for its adoption on Dec. 10, 1948.

“While presenting the document, Mrs. Roosevelt made a powerful statement: ‘We stand today at the threshold of a great event both in the life of the UN and the life of mankind. That is the approval by the General Assembly of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This Declaration may well become the international Magna Carta for all men everywhere.’

“The document now known as the Magna Carta of all human beings in the world was the result of lessons learned following the bitter experiences of WWII and the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. The UDHR document is aspirational in its vision and a peaceful and just world. Its purpose and message have inspired and influenced our work in the Human Rights Coalition of the Central Valley. 

“Sadly, according to a study by Human Rights USA, 92% of people in the United States have never heard about [the] UDHR. After learning about this lack of knowledge by people, it dawned upon me that there was a need for a vehicle to promote awareness and education about human rights in the Central Valley.

“After consultation with dear friends and supporters like the late Ellie Bluestein, Polly and Ralph Victor, and many other great peace activists and advocates of human rights, the Human Rights Coalition was born by organizing our first Human Rights Commemoration Day in Fresno on Dec. 8, 2012. It was held at the Community United Church of Christ. We had a large attendance and about 26 partners and sponsors who supported the event and the birth of the Coalition.

“Since then, we have organized the Human Rights Commemoration Day every year.

“I did what I could during these last 10–12 years. Now I am passing the torch on to a dedicated group of individuals who have given their best to keep the coalition on the right track and moving it forward toward its mission. It has been an honor and privilege to work with such a dedicated group. My salute to them.”

In the vein of Dr. Kapoor’s life and work, O’Connell asks that we “build a society of nonviolent solidarity built upon human rights yet achieved locally and regionally, through our networks and community connection.”

The HRCCV also organizes the commemoration of Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day in August of every year in Fresno in collaboration with the Japanese American Citizen League (JACL) and other peace groups.

The HRCCV is a nonprofit and nonpartisan collaborative of faith leaders, scholars and community activists and organizers who are committed to promoting awareness about all the human rights enshrined in the UDHR and other such international documents and standards. It does so through education, programs and observances. Learn more by calling 559-270-7041.