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For Immediate Release:
August 6, 2003
Immigrants Build Momentum for Upcoming
Freedom Rides
Over 1,500 immigrants and allies
expected to rally for immigration reform
| What: |
Immigrant workers and their allies will rally this Saturday
in preparation for the Immigrant Workers Freedom Rides in late
September. Riders and their supporters will then march to the
Congress Hotel to join the strikers in their fight for decent
wages and respect. |
| When: |
Saturday, August 9, 12:00 pm, NOON |
| Where: |
Merle Reskin Theater
60 E. Balbo (Corner of Balbo and Michigan)
Rally to follow in front of the Congress Hotel (520 S. Michigan
Ave.) |
| Who: |
Freedom Riders; Mike O’Neill, President of the Chicago
Building & Construction Trades Council; Denise Dixon of
ACORN; Maria Elena Durazo, General Vice President of HERE and
Chair of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride; elected officials,
religious leaders, and community leaders. |
| Why: |
The Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride builds on the momentum
of local immigrant struggles around the state of Illinois. The
Freedom Ride (www.iwfr.org) calls for sweeping immigration reform,
including a new legalization, family reunification, the right
of immigrants to form unions, and civil rights and liberties
for all American residents. In Illinois, immigrants have been
fighting for the right to have driver’s licenses, student
access to higher education, respect for day laborer’s
rights, an end to the deportations of Arabs, Muslims, and undocumented
immigrants, and an end to the social security no-match letters
that are tearing apart hard-working families. The buses will
depart Chicago on September 27 and the Ride will culminate in
a mass rally in New York City on October 4. |
| Photo Op: |
At 1:00 p.m., 1500 immigrants and supporters will join the
picket line in front of the Congress Hotel in support of striking
HERE Local 1 members, who hail from Ghana, India, Iran, Mexico
and other countries. |
For more information contact:
Marissa Graciosa, ICIRR, 773.259.6910
Lars Negstad, HERE Local 1, 312.446.1766
Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride
- Illinois Coalition
ACORN • AFL-CIO • Archdiocese of Chicago • Centro
Sin Fronteras • Chicago Coalition for the Homeless •
Chicago Federation of Labor • HERE • Illinois Coalition
for Immigrant and Refugee Rights • Illinois Hunger Coalition
• Interfaith Committee • Jobs with Justice • Laborers
Union • LCLAA • Metropolitan Alliance of Congregations
• Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church • Saint Sylvester’s
Catholic Church • SEIU • UFCW • UNITE
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© 2003 Hotel
Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union
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