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From the Streets of Gwangju to Illinois to Arizona, We Rise for Justice

By May 21, 2010July 24th, 2017One Comment
Illinois: Pilgrimage of Hope
In 1980, the people of Gwangju took to the streets to fight for democracy in the face of a US-backed dictatorship in Korea, risking their lives for democracy. 30 years later, we face a different type of oppression in Illinois with the threatened deportation of immigrant families that would separate parents from children, and friends from their loved ones. McHenry County’s Secure Community program would allow local police to enforce immigration law.Similarly, Arizona state government is planning to profile people for their immigration status. This type of racial profiling is unacceptable and the spirit of Gwangju demands us to stand up for the fight. We need to do something to bring justice for immigrants. Six to seven activists from Chicago’s Korean American Resource & Cultural Center are participating in the 50-person pilgrimage being organized by several community groups. They will walk from Chicago to the Immigration Detention Center in Woodstock IL to call for an end to deportations of law-abiding immigrants and the inhumane separation of families. They preceded their journey with a presentation at the Chicago Freedom School.

Support these activists as they set off on the pilgrimage to bring hope back to our families, communities, and nation.

What: Kick-Off for the Pilgrimage of Hope
When: Friday, May 21 at 9:30 a.m.
Where: St. Bartholomew’s Church
4941 W. Patterson Ave., Chicago, IL 60641
For full the three-day schedule, click here

Please contact Young Sun Song at 773.588.9158 or youngsun@chicagokrcc.org for details.

Arizona: National Day of Action Against SB1070
In the wake of the passage of the egregious and deplorable SB 1070, our voice for justice is more important than ever.  SB 1070 is the most far-reaching anti-immigrant legislation the U.S. has seen in years.  It will allow police to stop and question people simply based on “a reasonable suspicion” that they are undocumented, detain individuals for not having proper identification, and criminalize individuals being present with a friend or family member who is undocumented.With the signing of SB1070 in April, along with HB2281, which proposes to embargo funding for schools that include certain types of ethnic studies in their curriculum, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is fomenting a climate of hate and intolerance that will have a devastating impact on Arizona residents, particularly immigrants and communities of color.

Stand with Arizona’s immigrant community to say NO to these discriminatory laws that harm not only immigrants, but our nation as a whole.  A delegation from Los Angeles will be leaving by bus on the morning May 28; if you’re interested in joining, please contact Olivia Park at opark@nakasec.org or 323-937-3703.

What: March to the Arizona State Capitol
When: Saturday, May 29 at 8:00 a.m.
Starting Point: Indian Street Park
(at E. Indian School Road and N. 3rd Street), Phoenix, AZ
Alto Arizona

 

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