The dangers of divisive labels: Why Democrats must recenter an inclusive vision
Democrats must recommit to the principles that made the party a beacon of hope for so many.
In Pittsburgh and across the country, there is a growing pattern of labeling entire communities with charged, extremist rhetoric. A social media post reshared by the Pittsburgh chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace recently caught my attention. The graphic labeled Vivek Ramaswamy and Tulsi Gabbard as “Hindu supremacists.” This term isn’t just inflammatory — it’s a dangerous tool of bigotry, targeting an entire faith. It assigns collective guilt to a community based solely on religious identity.
Incidents like this highlight a troubling trend within a certain faction of the Democratic Party: a readiness to apply sweeping, incendiary labels in the name of combating hate, with little regard for the harm it causes to our own coalition.
As a proud Democrat and practicing Hindu, I know firsthand the power of building bridges between communities. I’ve spent my career forging coalitions around shared goals — economic growth, reproductive rights and environmental sustainability. Yet these efforts are increasingly under threat from hateful rhetoric that alienates longtime allies committed to justice and equity. The rise of harmful labels targeting religious or cultural communities undercuts the very ideals we aim to champion in the Democratic Party. This divisive rhetoric risks fracturing the diverse coalition that delivered historic victories for leaders like President Barack Obama.
The Democratic Party’s greatest strength has always been its diversity — not only racial and cultural, but in thought.
It’s a party where union workers, environmentalists, religious minorities and progressives can find common ground. However, this unity is being undermined by a subset of voices that prioritize ideological purity over pragmatic coalition-building.
These voices increasingly dominate conversations, pushing rigid litmus tests that alienate Democrats and potential allies. They seem to believe that uncompromising rhetoric is a sign of moral clarity. In reality, it often leaves little room for nuance or dialogue. This dynamic weakens the party’s ability to address the complex challenges facing our communities and pushes away people who share the same broader goals.
The labeling of Hindus as “supremacists” based on the actions or political stances of a few individuals is not an act of justice. It is an act of erasure. It dismisses the complexities of a community and reduces individuals to a dangerous stereotype. Worse, it contributes to an environment where hate and violence against Hindus, already on the rise, can flourish.
The coalition that fueled Obama’s success was a model of inclusivity and strategic unity. It was built on shared values, not rigid ideological conformity. Maintaining that coalition requires discipline, empathy and a commitment to respecting diverse viewpoints.
As Democrats, when we fail to push back against harmful rhetoric within our own ranks, we send a dangerous message: that some communities matter less than others, that their voices and concerns are secondary to ideological purity. By allowing divisive and exclusionary language to go unchallenged, we risk losing the very groups who have long been key to our coalition. This is not only a moral failure but a strategic misstep. Longtime Democrats, especially from immigrant and religious minority communities, are growing disillusioned — not because they’ve abandoned progressive values, but because they feel abandoned by a party that seems increasingly indifferent to their concerns. As these communities are sidelined, we lose not only their votes but their trust and their commitment to the broader mission of equality. This fracture weakens our ability to build lasting majorities and win critical elections.
In cities like Pittsburgh and across the country, working-class Hindus have long supported a progressive agenda. They
care deeply about issues like healthcare, education and climate change. Yet many are now reconsidering their political
engagement. The reason is not a shift in values but a sense that their contributions and identities are no longer recognized or respected.
The path forward is clear: Democrats must recommit to the principles that made the party a beacon of hope for so many. This means rejecting divisive labels and focusing on policy solutions that unite rather than divide. Critiquing harmful ideologies is essential, but it must be rooted in facts — not broad stereotypes. Conflating a person’s religion with their political views is not only wrong but dangerous. It creates a chilling effect that discourages participation and fosters division.
If Democrats want to build lasting majorities and enact meaningful change, we must embrace the full diversity of our coalition. That includes saying no to those within the party who push for ideological purity at the expense of broader unity. PJC
Bhavini Patel is an Edgewood Borough councilmember and former PA congressional candidate.
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