PRESS
ADVISORY
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March
19 for March 21st at 10:30AM
Press
Contacts
Rozalinda
Borcila: 813-789-012
IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND SUPPORTERS ANNOUNCE A 3-DAY WALK
TO CRETE
Resist the Crete Immigration
Detention Center
Chicago,
IL
– Immigrant Families, activists, and supporters will embark on a 3 day walk
from Little Village, Chicago to Crete Illinois. This action is a response to the
“detention center” planned by Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE),
Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and the village of Crete. While
immigrant rights advocates have been demanding an end to all deportations and immigration
reform, the Obama administration has instead done the opposite; deporting over
1 million immigrants and pushing “Immigration Detention Reform.” ICE is
currently planning to build at least five detention centers nationwide located in
states that have a high concentration of immigrants (California, Texas,
Illinois, Florida, and New Jersey)
WHAT: Press
Conference to announce a 3-Day walk Action to Crete IL.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 21st at 10:30 AM
WHERE: Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission
3442 W. 26th St. Chicago IL
60623
WHO:
Families affected by the immigration system, Our Lady of Guadalupe
Mission/Justice Mission, Moratorium on Deportations Campaign (MDC) and other organizations.
BACKGROUND:
ICE
is negotiating with the village of Crete and Corrections Corporation of America
to build a new Immigrant Detention Center, a prison with the capacity to
incarcerate 700-800 immigrants, just South of Chicago. The contract has not yet
been signed – and until it is, this new prison can still be stopped. “Our
families are being torn apart, so we come together and walk as one large
family.” stated the Organizers’ website for the Walk to Crete. "Detention
is about an open market in the business of selling human lives – Detention
centers are a new prison experiment, an old product re-packaged in new
ways."
Participants
in the walk will be available for interviews.
Itinerary
for the 3-day Action
Friday,
March 30
3PM-4 PM:
Departure event
3PM: Gather at
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, 3442 W 26th St, Chicago
3:30PM march
together to Cook County Jail , 26th St and California Ave.
RALLY: a gathering to make commitments
about the future we want to build together – one which knows no detention or
mass incarceration. Add your own sign. Wish the walkers a good journey!
4:30PM-8PM:
Walk through Back of the Yards, Chicago Lawn, Wrightwood, arrive in Evergreen
Park
Saturday,
March 31
9AM-8PM:
Walk through Beverly, Blue Island, Harvey, Homewood, arrive in Chicago Heights
- rallies along the way, times/locations TBA
Sunday,
April 1
9AM-12PM
Arrive in Crete
1PM-4PM
Rally and procession in Crete, action at site of proposed Detention Center
6PM-7PM
Return to Chicago
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