For immediate Release: Press Release

April 24, 2008

For more information contact:

• Catherine Salgado 312-332-7360 x 235
• Young Son Song 773- 506-9158 x 203

Immigrant Communities show unity with Chicago May Day efforts

CHICAGO, Il – Diverse communities representing African, Arab, Muslim, Asian, Latino and Polish communities joined in support of upcoming May 1st march. The diverse groups included representatives of the African American and LGBTQ communities that have participated in the marches in the past and that will continue supporting immigrant and workers’ rights.

Participants included Young Sun Song from the Korean Resource and Cultural Center, Arnold de Villa from the Alliance of Filipinos Rights and Empowerment, Alie Kabba from the United African Organization and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR); Rosi Carrasco from the March 10th Movement and ICIRR; Anka Karewicz from the Young Polish Initiative, Tania Unzueta from the LGBTQ community, Sultan Muhammad from the Inner City Muslim Action Network, Emma Lozano from Pueblos Sin Fronteras and the Coalition of African, Arab, Asian, European and Latino Immigrants of Illinois (CAAAELII), Hatem Abudayyeh from the Arab American Action Network and CAAAELII, and Reverend Patricia Watkins from TARGET Area Development Corporation.

The immigrant community of the Chicago area along with advocates and allies are united for the third year, to continue bringing attention to the urgent need of a just and humane immigration reform. “Year after year we see the increasing urgency of a just legislation that would provide real changes to the current broken immigration system,” said Anka Karewicz from the Young Polish Initiative. “Raids and deportations must stop; our government cannot continue to break families and communities apart. We need immigration reform now.”

“As immigrant communities we demand legalization for all immigrant workers and fair immigration reform that recognizes the vast contributions of immigrants to this great country,” said Alie Kabba, Executive Director of the United African Organization and Board member of ICIRR.

“We need to stop the hate against our communities and we will march together in support of legislation that would support a path to citizenship for all undocumented workers and their families,” said Rosi Carrasco, from the March 10 Movement and Board member of ICIRR.

May 1st is an international holiday that celebrates and commemorates the historic struggle of all working people throughout the world. “As diverse immigrant communities, we must once again show a broad base of support and revive the importance of International Workers Day,” said Young Sun Song, organizer from the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center.

ICIRR is dedicated to promote the rights of immigrants and refugees to full and equal participation in the civic, cultural, social and political life of our diverse society.

CAAAELII works to strengthen diverse voices of inter-generational immigrant and refugee communities by building alliance through a transformative process to develop grassroots power that impacts public policy.

KRCC’s mission is to empower the Korean American community through education, social service, organizing/advocacy and culture. KRCC serves the Korean American community of greater Chicago now estimated at 100,000.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is a state wide coalition of over 100 organizations dedicated to promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees to full and equal participation in the civic, cultural, social, and political life of our diverse society.

For more information, visit ICIRR’s website at www.icirr.org or call Catherine Salgado at 312.332.7360 ext. 235