Immigrant and Interfaith Movement to Welcome Pope Francis

MEDIA ADVISORY

September 9, 2015
Contact: María Ponce

Immigrant and Interfaith Movement To Welcome Pope Francis: Leaders Will Launch Unity Statement To Renew Commitment for Immigration Reform

Washington, DC – On September 10, 2015 immigrant rights and faith leaders will gather to welcome Pope Francis to America and call on the immigrant rights community to renew their commitment for immigration reform and join on a National Day of Prayer for Immigrant Families, Congress, and for our Nation.

The Pope’s visit comes at a critical time when some Presidential candidates have engaged in hateful and anti-immigrant rhetoric against America’ s immigrant community — rhetoric that runs contrary to the Pope’s message of compassion for immigrant families and refugees in our communities.

WHO:

• Janet Murguia, President and CEO, National Council of La Raza, NCLR
• Jim Wallis, President and Founder, Sojourners
• Angelica Salas, Executive Director of FIRM member-group the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, CHIRLA
• Cristian Avila, DREAMer, Mi Familia Vota
• Jaime Contreras, Vice President at 32BJ Service Employees International Union, SEIU
• Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, DC

Moderator: Eliseo Medina, Former International Secretary-Treasurer of the Service Employees International Union, SEIU

WHEN: Thursday, September 10 at 11 a.m. ET

WHERE: JW Marriott Washington, DC, (1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004)

Room: Congressional Room

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Photo: Pope Francis in St Peter’s square – Vatican, Alfredo Borba (CC BY-SA)