For Immediate Release
January 12, 2010
Contacts:
Olivia Park, NAKASEC, 213-605-1255
Junghee Lee, KRC, 661-607-6367
Younggi Lieu, KRCC, 224-616-1087
Korean Americans Taking Action for Immigration Reform in Jan. 2010
Local Actions Part of A Nationwide Escalation
(Los Angeles, CA) – Today, the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium and its affiliates, the Korean Resource Center in Los Angeles and the Korean American Resource & Cultural Center in Chicago, kick-started a nationwide effort to tell Congress that America needs action on comprehensive immigration reform in 2010. At more than 100 major pro-reform events across the country, Americans stood up, marched, held prayer vigils, convened press conferences, targeted members of Congress, conducted town halls, or held huge rallies to demonstrate the strength of the immigration reform movement.
Coinciding from Jan 12 -20 is an Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Week of Action with national, state and local AAPI organizations and allies. Korean Americans and AAPIs are sending a strong message to decision makers and our allies that AAPI communities are serious about demanding reform this year that will promote prosperity and security for all Americans. During this period, AAPIS are urged to submit letters to news outlets, write or visit their members of Congress, and join actions taking place in their neighborhoods. An easy way to start is to text the word “AAPI” to “69866” to get connected to the Reform Immigration for America campaign to be part of an national action network that receives timely alerts and updates.
“Life as it is right now is unbearable for immigrant communities from working parents to families waiting to be reunited with their loved ones. In particular, young immigrant students lead uncertain futures. It is what our community members face that remind us why we must realize immigration reform this year,” stated EunSook Lee, NAKASEC’s executive director.
Below is a list of events open to the media that NAKASEC and its affiliates are organizing and/or participating this week.
Events
1. Los Angeles, CA (Contact: Junghee Lee / Olivia Park)
Kick off press conference to announce effort to conduct 55 individual actions targeting each member of the State’s House and Senate delegation and to announce results of a study by University of Southern California highlighting economic benefits in California of immigration reform.
Tuesday, January 12, 10:00 a.m.
USC Davidson Conference Center – Evans Room (downstairs)
3415 South Figueroa Street (near Jefferson Blvd), Los Angeles, CA 90007
* From January 12 – 20, immigrant rights organizations in California will engage in 55 actions – from legislative visits to rallies – for immigration reform.
2. Chicago, IL (Contact: Younggi Lieu)
“Get On the Bus” Tour for Immigration Reform going through 8 Congressional Districts,
followed by a Press Conference
Wednesday, January 13, All day. Press conference at 5 p.m.
Federal Plaza, Chicago, IL
Rally for Immigration Reform
Saturday, January 16, 1 p.m.
First Baptist Congressional Church
60 N. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612
3. Phoenix, AZ (Contact: Olivia Park)
Arpaio’s America IS NOT Our America March
Saturday, January 16, March starts at 11 a.m., Rally at 2 p.m.
March starting point: Falcon Park, 3420 W. Roosevelt Street, Phoenix, AZ
Rally: 2939 W. Durango Street, Phoenix, AZ
* Organized by the National Day Laborers’ Organizing Network (NDLON) and community groups in Arizona, this national mobilization seeks to spotlight the ongoing gross civil rights violations targeting immigrant communities by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and to demand a termination of controversial immigrant enforcement programs, such as the 287(g) program and Secure Communities.
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The events organized by NAKASEC and its affiliates were part of a nationwide mobilization of Americans for comprehensive immigration reform. This week’s events represent a major escalation for the immigration reform movement, and come on the heels of a whirlwind of organizing activity in 2009. Pro-reform advocates have assembled an enormous and unprecedented bi-partisan coalition of people of faith, business, labor, civil rights, and elected officials. More than 700 organizations have joined the Reform Immigration FOR America campaign and the campaign is partnering with Americans in nearly every state to make 2010 the year that Congress finally delivers comprehensive immigration reform.
