Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Press Advisory for Friday, February 10

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

For more information, contact:       Monica Trevino, 773.573.8667 (mobile)

Josh Hoyt, 773.443.0539 (mobile)

Erica Hade, 312.343.0322 (mobile)

After news reports of connections to extreme anti-immigrant conservatives…

Community Leaders, Latino Elected Officials to Call on Candidates to Refuse Support of Extremist Groups; Question Piszczor’s Ties to Anti-Immigrant Movement

WHAT:      Following news reports of involvement by anti-immigrant political operatives in at least one majority Latino district, leaders of Illinois’ Latino and immigrant communities are organizing to draw attention to the influence of ultraconservative, anti-immigrant groups in upcoming primary elections.  

News reports have linked Michele Piszczor, candidate for the 22^nd Illinois House District, to a PAC founded by Tea Party leader and millionaire Jack Roeser.  Roeser led the fight last Spring to defeat the Illinois DREAM Act, a bill to give immigrant youth in Illinois access to a college education.  In a communication to conservative activists, Roeser called the Illinois Dream Act the “Illinois Nightmare Act,” attacked its political supporters and falsely claimed that it would cost taxpayers money.

WHEN:      10:30 a.m., Friday, February 10

WHERE:             Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

                   55 E. Jackson Blvd., 20^th Floor, Chicago

WHO:        State Senators, State Representatives, Aldermen, and Religious, Community and Labor Leaders, including:

§        Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

§        State Sens. Martin Sandoval and Tony Munoz

§        State Reps. Elizabeth Hernandez, Cynthia Soto, Edward Acevedo

§        Alderman Joe Moreno

§        Community Leaders:  Juan Salgado, Instituto del Progreso Latino; Maria Pesquiera, Mujeres Latinas en Accion; Joshua Hoyt, ICIRR; Alberto Mosqueda, South West Organizing Project; Alie Kabba, United African Organization; Ahmed Rehab, Council of American Islamic Relations; Equality Illinois; Fr. Brendan Curran, St. Pius V Catholic Church; SEIU;  Ahlam Jbara, Council of Islamic Organization of Greater Chicago; Tuyet Le, Asian American Institute;

         

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