[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]Immigrant Rights Activists' Caravan to Indiana to Join Protests Against Anti-Immigrant Bill

[josefro...@aol.com]

Press Advisory (***note two different press advisories for two events for today Friday)
For Immediate Release
Friday April 1^st

 

Press Contact:

Jesus Guillen: 773-297-3019

Mario Cardenas: 630-639-2295

 

Immigrant Rights Activists' Caravan to Indiana to Join Protests Against Anti-Immigrant Bill

 

What: Press Conference to invite Chicagoans to join the Immigrant’s Caravan to Indiana

When:  Today, Friday April 1^st at 10:30 AM.

Where:  Federal I.C.E. Building at Clark and Congress (101 W. Congress Parkway)

Who: Members and Supporters of the Moratorium on Deportations Campaign (MDC)

 

Chicago IL, On Saturday April 2nd a caravan of pro-immigrant activists will depart from Chicago with a banner of support for protests against Indiana's anti-immigrant bill proposal, SB590. The bill is similar to Arizona's infamous SB1070, which legalized a state-wide crack-down on undocumented residents passed last year in Arizona. Communities in Indiana have called for mass regional mobilizations to voice opposition to such measures.    

 

Action:

Invitation to Chicagoans to join the Immigrant’s Caravan happening on Saturday April 2^nd  . The reunion and departure of the caravan will take place at 10:00 AM, in the heart of the immigrant neighborhood of Pilsen (S. Blue Island Avenue and W. 18^th street).  At the event community members can sing a symbolic "migra manta" banner that will deliver support for the undocumented residents of Indiana.  The caravan will join a march in Hammond, Indiana scheduled to begin at 12:00 pm on Saturday and deliver a banner of support to the immigrant community. The caravan will also make connections between immigrant communities in Indiana and those in Chicago.

 

Background:  

The bill proposal in Indiana, SB590, is the most recent in a wave of anti-immigrant bills sweeping the legislatures of states including Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and even Illinois (HB1969). Most of these bills contain similar components which include the use of state and local law enforcement to stop anyone they "suspect" of being in the country without documents; punitive measures against businesses that hire undocumented workers; an English-only rule for all official government documents and meetings and barring sanctuary cities within their state.

 

In the face of a growing climate of hostility and intolerance, Chicago activists extend a call for regional solidarity to broaden the fight against bills like Illinois' anti-immigrant HB1969. 

 "Undocumented workers have become the scapegoats for a political system unable to deal directly and honestly with the crises it has helped create" explains pro-immigrant activist Rozalinda Borcila.  "….when the most vulnerable workers become more exploitable and disenfranchised, the race to the bottom intensifies, affecting us all". 

 

The call for solidarity goes beyond the immigrant community, as Mario Cardenas of the Moratorium on Deportations Campaign states: "We ask people to defend human rights in the United States.  There is no sense in using tax-dollars to profile and detain hardworking people.  These bills aim to create a society filled with racial tensions instead of addressing the real problem, a mass of people without rights."

 

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For Immediate Release

April 1, 2011 Event

Press Contact:

Fr. Jose S. Landaverde 773-512-8015

Protest, fasting and March against State Attorney Anita Alvares to stop the separation of families by immigration hold

WHAT: Prayer vigil and fasting to denounce (Anita Alvares Cook county states attorney) On Friday April 1, 2011 at 12. 00 noon, we will start at 3442 w 26 street ending in 2650 S. California avenue at the Cook county States Attorney offices.

WHEN: Friday 1, 2011 at 12:00 PM

WHERE: Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission 3442 W. 26th St. Chicago IL 60623

WHO: Members and Volunteers of Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission and the Little Village Community.

Chicago IL, On Friday April 1, 2011 at 12:00pm noon there will be a prayer vigil and fasting to denounce Anita Alvarez, the current Cook County states attorney. Protest, fasting and march will start at 3442 W. 26th street ending at 2650 S. California Ave, in front of the Cook county States Attorney offices.  'It is very sad that Anita Alvarez wants to become a federal Judge by persecuting her own people and attacking the immigrant community" said Father Jose S. Landaverde, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission. 

People from the community and religious leaders will march from Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission to Anita Alvarez’ office to demand an end to the "immigration holds" inside the cook county jail which are the main reason for the current family separation and the deportation of hundreds of undocumented immigrants out of Cook County. Cook county sheriff Thomas Dark has stated in previous community briefings and press conference, that Anita Alvarez is the one responsible for the immigration holds in Cook County. 

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission has been committed to Immigrant Justice trough the advocacy of ending family separation and an end to all deportations since it’s founding. The Mission has helped hundreds of families under deportations proceedings and with the intervention of its priest, Father Jose S. Landaverde and volunteers of the mission, it has been able to help people who are under custody of Immigration and Custom Enforcement and/or are under deportation proceedings. 

 

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Padre Jose Landaverde

Our Lady of Guadalupe Anglican Catholic Mission

3442 W. 26th St. Chicago IL 60623

josesla...@hotmail.com

 

-Jose Herrera 

773-632-9992