PRESS
ADVISORY-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March
02, 2009
Immigrant
Youth Justice League
www.iyjl.wordpress.com
For
more information contact:
Tania Unzueta (773) 387-3186 English
Jose
Herrera (773) 632-9992 Spanish
Chicago
Undocumented Youth Kick Off National 'Coming out of the Shadows'
Actions
March
calls for Senator Durbin, President Obama to take leadership on comprehensive
immigration reform in 2010 that includes a path to legalization for youth and
our parents
WHAT: Press
conference to announce March 10th mass mobilization, and 'Coming out of the
Shadows' direct action by undocumented youth. Organizers will also update on
City of Chicago marching permits.
WHEN: Tuesday
March 02, 2010, 11:30 AM
WHERE: Federal
Plaza, 219 S. Dearborn (Corner of Jackson and
Dearborn)
WHO: Immigrant
Youth Justice League, with support from local and national immigrant rights
organizations.
WHY: All
over the country our communities and youth are tired of being persecuted by an
immigration system that hurts us all and keeps us from contributing to our
families and communities. The Immigrant Youth Justice League (IYJL)
is working with community organizations for a mass youth-led immigrant rights
mobilization in Chicago, and national coordinated actions in support for a path
towards legalization for students, youth, and our parents.
This
action is a call for leadership from Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), who has worked
for and promised the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform for years.
Now, as the Senate's second-ranking leader, he is in a position to deliver. As
our senator, and a long-time supporter of immigrant youth, we need him to lead
on the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform this
year.
"We cannot wait any more. Not while our parents are getting deported and our youth's dreams fall apart due to an obsolete immigration system that has failed us and the country. I have supported Senator Durbin and President Obama, and now we need them to act. This country cannot wait anymore, we will not wait any longer," said Ireri, IYJL member.
IYJL has extended an invitation for a place at the table to the Senator, as well as President Barack Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, on March 10th, 2010 so that they can hear the proposals for immigration reform from the people that are affected the most. There have been more deportations under President Obama than any year under Bush. We need our leaders to do the right thing, the just thing, and the best thing for our economy and working families.
In collaboration with the national youth-led network United We Dream, students and youth from around the country will be organizing “coming out of the shadows” actions between March 10th and March 21st, starting right here in Chicago.
We are urging our communities to join us in Chicago at Union Park starting at 11 am on March 10, march with us at 1pm, and join us in Federal Plaza at 3pm. We are also calling for national groups to organize "coming out of the shadows" actions to pressure our leaders to take action on the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform this year.
Partial list of endorsing organizations: Immigrant Youth Justice League (IYJL)
Access to Opportunity Movement, Amnesty International USA- Midwest Region, Arab American Action Network (AAAN), Centro Obrero de Detroit, Chicago Community and Workers' Rights, Chicago Duke March Collective, Coalition of African, Arab, Asian, European, and Latino Immigrants of Illinois (CAAAELII), Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Gay Liberation Network, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), Immigrant Solidarity Dupage, Independent Voters of Illinois- Independent Precinct Organization, Injustice Fighting Task Force-Dominican University, International Socialist Organization, Latino Organization of the Southwest, Movimiento Cultural Latino Americano (NEIU), OLAS Harold Washington College, Organization of the Northeast (ONE), Palestine Solidarity Group (PSG)-Chicago, Progress Center for Independent Living , Restaurant Opportunities Center of Chicago, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, Roosevelt University Sociological Society, Solidarity, Southwest Youth Collaborative Generation, UIC Project Focus, UIC-Student for Immigrants Rights, Union de Vendedores Ambulantes, United Electrical Workers, United States Palestinian Community Network
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