Today, November 3rd, on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the historic election of President Barack Obama, a crowd of over 400 strong packed the auditorium of the Spertus Institute and later in Grant Park to reaffirm our support for the “Change Worth Fighting For.”

Organizers of the event committed to the President and to each other to continue to fight for the these issues include immigration reform, financial regulation reform, worker rights to organize, inclusion of the LGBT community, and addressing our warming planet.

The prominent Chicago progressive leaders participating in this event included Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, SEIU Local 1 President, Tom Balanoff, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs Jane Ramsey, LGBT leader Rep. Greg Harris, ICIRR Board President Juan Salgado. They talked about the importance of each specific issue and the importance to work together to move forward towards a more inclusive country.

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson referring to the much needed reform to different issues like financial regulation and immigration said:

“Any solution or remedy must be judged by how it affects the people. President Obama is to be commended for the work he has done but there is still unfinished business we must attend to,”

Tom Balanoff President of SEIU Local 1 talked about the urgent need for financial resurgence, the need for more jobs and an end to home foreclosures.

“We need an economic recovery that enables businesses to access credit to create new jobs, puts an end to home foreclosures so families are not displaced and caps rising credit card interest rates.”

State Representative Greg Harris (D-13):

“All of us who supported President Obama to build a better, fairer America need to work together to be sure that everyone has a chance to prosper here and live the American Dream with a decent job for decent pay, a safe neighborhood, accessible and affordable healthcare and equal protection of the law,”

At today’s event, these and other progressive leaders signed a letter that supports President Obama and urges him to “continue to show courage” on a range of important and difficult issues that require urgent solutions. These include:

• Inclusive health care with a strong public option
• fixing our broken immigration laws and ending the separation of immigrant families;
• ensuring the rights of workers to organize for just wages;
• providing living wage jobs to the unemployed;
• ensuring the full and equitable inclusion of the LGBT community and women in our society;
• reforming our financial system to end the predatory practices that result in economic chaos, home foreclosures, and personal bankruptcies;
• protecting our children’s future by addressing our warming planet;
• and creating a more peaceful world.

View a full copy of the letter here.

“The urgency of these issues is clear,” said Juan Salgado, Board President of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). “The pressures of the economic downturn, the impact on homeowners, and the increase in deportations are causing desperation in our communities. The importance of each of these issues brings us together today in solidarity to make America a fairer and more inclusive nation for all.”

The event at Spertus Institute, culminated in a symbolic action in Grant Park, hundreds including community members, advocates and elected officials signed the letter addressed to President Obama in Grant Park, the same place where huge celebrations took place last year.

View photos form the event here:

We thank all the organizations and individuals that contributed to the event today, and look forward to organizing together in the months ahead.