From the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights blog:
President Obama, Senator Durbin: Change Takes Courage!
At a press conference on February 22 at Jane Addams Hull House, faith, labor, business, youth, Latino and community leaders discussed plans to bring 10,000 people from Illinois to join 100,000 at the national “March FOR America” to call for comprehensive immigration reform. The march in D.C. will take place on the afternoon of Sunday, March 21 at the Lincoln Memorial.
View the press conference in its entirety here.
Participants are calling on President Obama, Senator Dick Durbin, and local political leaders to join them in the march, and to take leadership to pass just and humane immigration reform this year. “Friends keep promises,” said Joshua Hoyt, Executive Director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). “We need to remind our friends about their promise to pass just and humane immigration reform. Now is the time for President Obama to exert his leadership and for Senator Durbin to use his power in the Senate to reform the broken immigration system. Change needs courage.”
The “March for America” has vast support nationally and locally. African, Asian, Latino, Irish, Muslim, Arab, and Polish immigrant communities in Illinois announced their plans to support the march.
Alie Kabba, Executive Director of the United African Organization and Board Vice President of ICIRR stated:
“We are marching because President Obama and members of Congress from both parties must work together on fixing the broken immigration system. Immigration reform is a priority that we want them to address this year. Change is long overdue, and we need their courage and leadership to tackle and solve tough problems that affect us all”
Participants highlighted the positive effects of immigration reform on the economy.
“Comprehensive immigration reform will add $1.5 trillion to the U.S. economy, drive up wages for all workers, and support nearly a million jobs, If we want to fix our economy, we must fix our broken immigration system.”said Jesse Iñiguez from the Southwest Chamber of Commerce and owner of Café Cedahlia.
Labor representatives from UE, SEIU and UFCW also stressed the importance of immigration reform for economic recovery and jobs creation.
“Labor unions will be in Washington on March 21 because there can be no economic recovery until our country is again creating jobs that can support families. And that can’t happen while employers are allowed to undercut wages by exploiting the millions of immigrant workers who are unable to challenge their working conditions. We are going to Washington to demand comprehensive immigration reform as well as federal action to directly create millions of living-wage jobs across the country.” said Carl Rosen, President of UE, Western Region.
Catholic, Evangelical and Jewish leaders joined in support of the campaign, highlighting the need for humane solutions.
“We want to remind our legislators that we need urgent, compassionate and common sense solutions for the broken system that is tearing families apart. The buses that will depart from different churches, community organizations, and businesses across the country will reflect the sentiments of hard working families who contribute to America and want to come out of the shadows. Legislators in D.C. cannot ignore us.z’ said Father Claudio Holzer from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Melrose Park and the West Suburban Action Project (P.A.S.O.).
Youth leaders brought a message of urgency regarding families, workers, and in particular young immigrants who have lived in the U.S. since their childhood and call America home. “We want the Congress and the President to act,” said Tania Unzueta, youth organizer and activist with the Immigrant Youth Justice League.
Leaders highlighted a recently released report, The Power of the Latino Vote in America- They Tipped Elections in 2008; Where Will they be in 2010? They discussed the importance of the Latino vote and the consequences for both political parties if solutions for the broken immigration system are not enacted soon.
“The President and Democratic leaders promised action on comprehensive immigration reform during their campaigns, and Latino and other voters intend to hold them accountable to their promises,” said Juan Salgado, Board President of ICIRR and Executive Director of Instituto del Progreso Latino. “Republican leaders also need to rehabilitate their party’s image with Latino voters if they want to be viable in upcoming House and Senate races and future Presidential contests. Our votes cannot be taken for granted.”
Categories: comprehensive immigration reform, Illinois, March For America, Washington DC
Tags: comprehensive immigration reform, Illinois, March For America, Washington DC
