Immigrant Advocates Assaulted During Mayday March:::Solidarity Action Friday 4/12/2014
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José G. Herrera
May 2, 2014, 2:16:40 AM5/2/14
to chicag...@googlegroups.com
For Immediate Release
May 2, 2014 at 10:30am
Press Conference
Immigrant 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 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 Anne 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 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.
The attack on Mr. Garcia is clearly politically motivated, as he is a member of 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
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