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01/17/2012 11:55 AM

Queens Rapper Joins Growing Chorus For Awareness About Redistricting

By: NY1 News

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A Queens rapper is adding his music and his voice to the growing chorus against a hot-button political issue.

Himanshu Suri of the hip-hop group Das Racist performed Monday night at a fundraiser in Richmond Hill to help out SEVA, a community organization that is raising awareness about the potential consequences of gerrymandering, the redrawing of local political districts to benefit incumbents.

<i>Rapper-activist Himanshu Suri</i>
Rapper-activist Himanshu Suri
It has been a big issue in places like Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park and Woodhaven, where some neighborhoods sit in several districts.

Many in the South Asian community say this leaves them without a unified political voice speaking for them.

"The more people in our community know what's going on, the more people are going to get upset about this as they redraw these district lines," said Suri. "We want them to know we are coming together and hope they are drawn so we have finally have a voice in our community."

A state task force is expected to release its redistricting recommendations this month.