Residents, Activists, urge Village Board and Mayor to adopt Stronger Welcoming Village Ordinance Following President Trump’s attacks on Immigrant Community
OAK PARK, IL—(ENEWSPF)—February 2, 2017. On Saturday, February 4, from noon to 2 p.m., Oak Park residents and others will rally at Scoville Park urging Village Trustees and the Mayor to keep their word and adopt a strong, inclusive, and comprehensive Welcoming Village Ordinance to protect its immigrant population, instead of a previous proposal that included dangerous deportation loopholes which put immigrant residents and their loved ones at risk of deportation. Scoville Park is located at the corner of Lake Street & Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park.
“Countless Oak Park residents attended a Village Board meeting last January generating public consensus from Trustees to adopt an Ordinance that can serve as a model for other suburban communities,” said Mony Ruiz-Velasco, Executive Director of PASO-West Suburban Action Project. “We are rallying to remind the Board of Trustees and the Mayor of the public commitment they made to adopt a strong and inclusive policy.”
In preparation for the rally, Oak Park residents are organizing social media actions and calls to elected officials while coalescing with community organizations, faith-based groups and other organizations to present a strong, united front. The next Village Board meeting scheduled for Monday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m.
“Our diverse community stands united in supporting our neighbors – not divided,” said Anthony Clark, Founder and Director of the Suburban Unity Alliance. “We must show strong resolve and numbers to hold the Village to its commitment. We cannot accept dangerous loopholes that would leave community members vulnerable to deportation and which would threaten the safety, employment, welfare, and health of immigrants and residents. We stand for protection, not collaboration.”
The rally has been endorsed by the following organizations: PASO (West Suburban Action Project), Arab American Action Network, Collaborative for Health Equity Cook County, Community of Congregations, the Oak Park Community Relations Commission, the Oak Park Democratic Party, Oak Park Progressive Women for Action, the Suburban Unity Alliance, and more.
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All conveners and supporters of the city-wide actions since last week: Arab American Action Network, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago, Organized Communities Against Deportations, United African Organization, Korean American Resource and Cultural Center, PASO – West Suburban Action Project, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, National Immigrant Justice Center, U.S. Palestinian Community Network, National Lawyers Guild, Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Pilsen Alliance, Chicago Teachers Union, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Syrian Action Network, Arab American Family Services, Indo-American Center, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance of Illinois, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, Anakbayan-Chicago, Jewish Voice for Peace, Campaign to TAKE ON HATE, Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, American Muslims for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace-Chicago, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, Black Lives Matter-Chicago, United Electrical Workers (UE) Western Region, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Illinois and Indiana, United Working Families, Fight for 15-Chicago, elected and appointed officials, and many other advocacy, immigrant rights, and legal groups.
Source: Arab American Action Network
