In light of recent attacks against people of Indian descent, the University of Minnesota’s Indian Student Association hosted a two-hour safe-space conversation Wednesday.

The topics discussed included identity and how students feel about being Indian or Indian-American under President Donald Trump’s administration, as well recent hate crimes that have been committed against people of Indian decent.

Students articulated the struggles that are associated with growing up with more than one culture and talked about what it means to be a first generation American or an Indian immigrant in the United States.

The conversation turned to the recent attacks on Indian Americans.

This year there have been multiple reports of Indian Americans facing violent attacks, and some being killed because of their ethnicity.

“We’re working on creating resources for minority students to use” said Peter Limthongviratn an Asian Pacific American Resource Center employee. The department has resources and safe spaces for students of Asian descent to use.

“What’s most unsettling around me is other people don’t know that it’s happening, that it’s important, that it will affect them” a student said, speaking on the lack of attention the Indian community gives to minorities that experience discrimination. Students asked to remain anonymous because they were sharing sensitive stories.

The group discussed ways that it can work to end racial injustice, like the importance of contacting Congressional representatives to voice concerns.

This was the group’s first safe space conversation session and its leaders hope to have more in the future.

“We are very saddened by recent events,” said Priyanka Chaduvula, ISA’s president. “We stand against acts of violence, xenophobia, and racism.”