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March 29, 2006
Fighting for Our Rights
1. The Council Chair “HANDCUFFED” Along With Other Religious Leaders In Washington DC 2. “Hold Leaders Accountable For Humane Immigration Reform” 3. And The People Were Heard – Victory For Mccain-Kennedy Bill
In Solidarity
1. United Methodist Clergy And The Council To Sign A Joint Declaration
In Service
1. Council to Hold Citizenship Workshop in Bridgeview
2. Call For News From You
The Council Chair “HANDCUFFED” Along With Other Religious Leaders In Washington DC
March 27, Washington D.C. 2006 - Three-hundred American religious leaders stood handcuffed on the West Lawn of the Capitol today including the Council chairman Abdul Malik Mujahid. A very powerful sight, indeed. Why the handcuffs? Simple. If a bill passed by the House becomes a law, clergy across America would be considered felons for feeding those immigrants who are poor, hungry, in need…and illegal.
Under the warm sun and blue sky, clergy from all faiths told a crowd of over 3,000 that had gathered on a week’s notice that they serve God’s children. With the Capitol as their backdrop, they spoke loud and clear with a simple message for Congress to hear - that God created humans, not immigrants; that they serve humans, not immigrants. According to the Chicago Tribune, “Much of the controversy around immigration reform - including last week's massive school walk-out in Los Angeles - centers on an anti-smuggling provision in the House bill. Many church leaders claim it would make a felony out of feeding, sheltering or providing health care to undocumented immigrants.”
Council Chairman Mr. Abdul Malik Mujahid roused the crowd as a representative of the Chicago Muslim voice. He reminded them that the American Indians hadn’t asked the European Pilgrims to see their green cards before feeding them and coming to their aid. Thousands cheered and applauded. Mr. Abdul Malik Mujahid went on to say that people of faith, including Muslims, do not shut the door on hands reaching for help. The echo from the crowd reached greater heights and reverberated between the buildings. Br. Mujahid ended by asserting that a law hurting one group of people hurts all people and that we do not support such discriminate classifications when helping those reaching out for help.
With their hands cuffed, the clergy proceeded into the Capitol to express their concern about the bill to Senators during their lunch break.
Photos of the rally will be posted next week.
For details: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ny-usimmig264677973mar27,1,347309.story
To learn more: http://www.communitychange.org/
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“Hold Leaders Accountable For Humane Immigration Reform”
March 27, 2006, Washington D.C - The Human Rights Campaign located in Washington, D.C. kicked off its new program, Liberty and Justice for All, this week. The Council was invited to participate on behalf of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). The program is designed to make legislators more accountable for their decisions on immigration reform, especially choices that may hurt immigrants and thus America.
At its reception Monday night, Professor David Cole spoke to the group regarding the declining state of civil rights in America noting that the current political trend in the Democrat v. Republican stance is law v. security. He noted that this was an incorrect position. He stated that the law as it stands could reinforce security if the law was applied as written.
One of his examples involved racial/ethnic profiling in that the government’s record has been “0 for 86,000.” Zero people have been convicted for terrorism while 86,000 have been affected either through the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) program, or have been deported despite being cleared of having ties to terrorism, and/or have been interviewed by the FBI. Not withstanding these measures, the government is no closer today to where it was before 9/11 in apprehending terrorists. The number of people adversely affected, however, is astronomical.
David Cole is a professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Center and his most recent book is titled, “Enemy Aliens: Double Standards and Constitutional Freedoms in the War on Terrorism." David Cole has worked assiduously, challenging parts of the USA PATRIOT ACT and related measures. The author of several books and newspaper and radio commentaries, he has been a most consistent critic of the government during the past few years. According to Human Rights Magazine, “For the past fifteen years, David Cole has devoted his legal talents to representing people and organizations targeted by the government based on their speech, associations, status as aliens, race, or political beliefs.”
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And The People Were Heard – Victory For Mccain-Kennedy Bill
March 27, 2006 - The Council was invited by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), an organizer with the Rights Working Group, to participate in its conference this weekend to effectuate change on Capitol Hill. The House had passed an Immigration Reform Bill that was opposed by unions, clergy and immigration rights groups on the basis of its injustice. Among other things, the bill as written would criminalize the United States’12 million hard-working albeit illegal immigrants.
After participating in a rally of 3,000 on the Capitol’s West Lawn, Council Spokesperson Ms. Janaan Hashim and Mr. Mehrdad Azemun of the ICIRR and other Latino community leaders met with Illinois Congressmen and Senators. They left material for several Congressmen who were unavailable while meeting with staffers of Congressmen Lipinsky of the 3rd District and Danny Davis, and Senators Dick Dubin and Barack Obama.
The group held Congressman Lipinsky accountable for voting in favor of a bill that hurts many of its constituents. The Congressman’s staffer explained that Lipinsky’s support was a reflection of the letters he received to act accordingly. Hashim also questioned if steps were taken by the Congressman to reach the rest of his constituency, who would be adversely affected, to determine if this was also their sentiment. Hashim said that the Muslim community was excluded and asked for a list of where those meetings, if any, were held to highlight Lipinsky’s failure to fairly represent his Muslim constituents. The list will be faxed to our office.
Congressman Danny Davis opposed the bill and Azemun and Hashim approached his office leaving a message asking for support. They also met with staffers working with Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama to express their concern of how the bill serves to hurt America rather than support it.
By end’s day, given the massive rallies held across the country and the clergy rally on the Capitol’s West Lawn, the message had been delivered. As noted by ICIRR, “The last few days have seen the largest pro-immigrant mobilization in American history.” The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to include the McCain-Kennedy bill that would be attached to the final version of the HR 4755, thereby eliminating the original provision to criminalize illegal immigrants.
According to The New York Times: "With Republicans deeply divided, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Monday to legalize the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants and ultimately to grant them citizenship, provided that they hold jobs, pass criminal background checks, learn English and pay fines and back taxes."
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United Methodist Clergy And The Council To Sign A Joint Declaration
April 6, 2006, Villa Park, IL - Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns and the Council invited United Methodist Clergy to meet with leaders of the Muslim community at a dinner Thursday, April 6.
The dinner has been in the planning stages for almost a year since the meeting of Council Chairman, Mr. Abdul Malik Mujahid and Bishop Hee-Soo Jung. According to NIC News, a Declaration of Relationship between NIC United Methodists and Chicago Muslims has been been drafted and will be signed by the two leaders who will address the gathering.
The intent is that this initiative will open the doors to further dialogues, mutual invitations, hospitality, community issues involvement and interactions among respective congregations.
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Council to Hold Citizenship Workshop in Bridgeview
April 7, Bridgeview, IL - In the past year, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago has helped over 300 individuals through the citizenship process, as part of a state-sponsored citizenship campaign called the New Americans Initiative. The Council will hold a citizenship workshop in conjunction with the Arab American Action Network (AAAN) at Bridgeview's Muslim Youth Center on April 7th . All eligible green card holders should come to the workshop where multilingual volunteers will assist them in filing their naturalization applications. To be considered a community with a strong valuable voice, it’s imperative that we not only live in America but be participating citizens. After filing for citizenship, worshippers may attend Friday prayers at the Mosque Foundation at 12 pm or 1:30 pm.
What: Citizenship Workshop - File your naturalization papers!
When: Friday, April 7th; 10 am - 1 pm
Where: Muslim Youth Center - 7260 W. 93rd Street, Bridgeview IL 60455
Please contact the office at 312.506.0070 to find out if you are currently eligible to apply for citizenship and for more information on what documents you must bring to the workshop.
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Call For News From You
Please send us news of important goings-on in your masjid or Islamic Center. A cross-pollination of ideas and know-how is vital to growing stronger.
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