Immigrant Rights Advocates Assaulted During Mayday March
Moratorium on Deportations Campaign
For Immediate Release
May 2, 2014 at 10:30am
Press Conference
Immigrant Rights Advocates Assaulted During Mayday March
WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: Friday, May 2 at 10:30am
WHERE: 36 S. Wabash
WHY:
Chicago, IL – Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee
Rights (ICIRR) and Service Employees
International Union (SEIU) used event marshals and police to assault
peaceful participants during the Mayday March. Marshals obstructed groups of
marchers, blocking them from being able to walk or to pass on either side of
the street, and directed police to kettle specific groups of people.
Eventually, marshals singled out Jose Garcia, pushing him and grabbing his
banner repeatedly. They physically restrained him and called police officers to
remove him from the march. The officers arrested Jose Garcia and Ann-Meredith
Wootton. Jose Garcia is a long-time undocumented organizer who is also battling
deportation proceedings.
The attack on Mr. Garcia is clearly politically motivated, as he is a member of
the organization Moratorium on
Deportations Campaign, an outspoken critic on ICIRR's position on
immigration reform. The actions perpetrated by this coalition are not a
one-time occurrence. ICIRR has a record of calling the police on undocumented
activists who disagree with them. In 2012, ICIRR staff called police to
forcefully remove veteran DREAMer José Herrera from a public event because he
was giving a radio interview that disagreed with the official ICIRR position. Mr.
Herrera was also facing deportation proceedings at the time.
A full report on the arrests will be
presented at the press conference, as well as an open statement denouncing
these actions and holding the organizations accountable.
Activists will be available for interviews.
Press Contacts:
Jose Herrera, 773-632-9992
Rozalinda Borcila, 813-789-0123
--
Christine Geovanis
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