For Immediate Release
Contact: Ana Garcia Ashley, 414-708-3777,
Father Jack Martin 201-327-1313 x30
Juan Soto: 773-330-5664
Rev. Maristela Freiberg: 973-465-2259

Gamaliel affiliates in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin announce their support for a comprehensive immigration reform bills by Senator Kennedy (D-MA) and Representatives Menendez (D-NJ) and Gutierrez (D-IL) to be introduced May 4th in the U. S. Congress. Gamaliel groups will sponsor a series of media events on May 4th in Chicago, Milwaukee, Hartford, St. Louis, and Newark.

The Gamaliel Foundation is a network of 1,600 Christian, Jewish and Muslim congregations that will hold 26 public meetings around the U. S. Under the theme ROLLING THUNDER, from July to Oct. of this year. Gamaliel affiliates will have 67,000 people attending these public meetings. All of these meetings will educate voters on the need for immigration reform. 

"The proposed legislation offers a way for hardworking immigrants to emerge from the shadows and get on a path to citizenship. It will protect immigrants and U. S born low-wage workers and will reunite families in a timely fashion. It will also set reasonable rules that are fair and enforceable." said Maria Knapp, a Gamaliel immigrant leader from St. Louis.

The legislation by Sen. Kennedy, Rep. Menendez, and Rep. Gutierrez includes comprehensive immigration reform legislation that combines legalization, family visas, and worker protections.

"The government's current immigration policies separated a mother from her 2-month-old baby, as it was the case of Marie Lydie Adji. The baby refused to eat, luckily with intervention from our Jubilee Interfaith Organization, a Gamaliel affiliates who with assistance from our congressional delegation, were able to get the baby into the Elizabeth Detention Center, NJ, to see her mother and to nurse. Marie was then deported to the Ivory Coast in West Africa this February, with her 3-month-old daughter and 3-year-old son. The family has been cut in half - the husband and the couple's 5-year-old child stayed in America. This tragedy is happening everyday all across our country, our current immigration policies are just outrageous. This legislation will be the best fix for a broken system." said Father Jack Martin, Gamaliel spokesperson from New Jersey.

"Gamaliel and affiliates intend to take action during the Rolling Thunder Campaign. "Rolling Thunder" was a strategy used by the African  National Congress (ANC) in South Africa during the struggle against Apartheid.  The ANC coordinated mass demonstrations, one after the other, in all major cities in the Country.  This generated great press and a feeling of momentum for those in the struggle.  Gamaliel will push for The Civil Rights of Immigrants and urge everyone to Get Out To Vote in our Rolling Thunder meetings."  said Maria Knapp, Gamaliel immigrant leader. 

To see a complete Rolling Thunder meeting list go to www.gamaliel.org or contact the Gamaliel office at 312- 357-2639. 

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