Undocumented youth-led meeting for Planning of National Coming Out Day

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Coming Out of the Shadows: Undocumented. Unafraid. Unapologetic.

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“We can no longer wait for our paths to be unblocked & for our futures to be handed back to us. The time is long overdue. We are undocumented, unafraid, & unapologetic in our pursuit for equal opportunity, & we know exactly what it’s going to take” – Alaa Mukahhal, Immigrant Youth Justice League organizer.

March 10, 2011, 3:00 PM

Rally will take place at Daley Plaza. Details on march and starting point to be determined, pending community meetings.

Last year, as undocumented immigrant youth, we began to publicly defy fear and criminalization by declaring to be undocumented and unafraid in the pursuit of equal rights, immigration reform, and the DREAM Act. It began here in Chicago on March 10th, 2010 and then spread all over the nation. Since then, young people have been coming out to their friends, teachers, legislators, classmates, which have even lead to actions of civil disobedience in Arizona, Washington D.C., New York, Illinois, California and Texas. This has been the first time that the undocumented youth movement has taken ownership of our actions, our politics, our stories, and the risks that we are willing to take for the movement.

Undocumented youth unite! Undocumented youth are leading the organizing for a rally and march once again this March 10th in Chicago, followed by nationally coordinated actions the following week. If you are an undocumented youth who is interested in being part of the organizing committee of the rally and march, please join us at our meetings.

Undocumented youth-led meeting:
Thursday February 10, 6:00 PM, at 55 E. Jackson, 20th Floor
(Conference room of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights)

If you are not undocumented, please know that all people are welcome (we won’t be checking IDs at the door), but understand that we want this to be a space where as undocumented youth, we can be able make decisions about our lives, and we encourage you to take a supporting role. Specific ways to help are:

1. Donating money for printing, stage, permits and other costs. Checks can be made to “Immigrant Youth Justice League” and online donations can be processed through pay-pal on our website.
2. Spreading the word to your members, contacts and community about the UNDOCUMENTED, UNAFRAID, UNAPOLOGETIC rally and march, starting at Daley Plaza (100 N Dearborn St.) at 3pm March 10. Download the flyer here, and check out our Facebook Event.
3. Encouraging undocumented youth to get involved in weekly planning meetings at 6pm on Thursdays. E-mail us for location and more information.
4. Providing a permanent location for our organizing meetings.

While you’re here, check out this slide show about last year’s Coming Out of the Shadows. If you are a member of the press and would like more information about our organization or the event, please e-mail us at me...@iyjl.org 

The Immigrant Youth Justice League (IYJL) is a Chicago-based organization led by undocumented youth working towards full recognition of the rights and contributions of all immigrants through education, leadership development, policy advocacy, resource gathering, and mobilization