Chicago Families Protest Increasing Racial Profiling in the Era of the War on Terror: Community Hearings to be Held 10/7/2003
From: Josina Morita of Applied Research Center, 773-844-7296; e-mail: jmorita@arc.org; Saket Soni of the Coalition of African, Asian, European and Latino Immigrants of Illinois, 773-550-9339; e-mail: saketsoni@hotmail.com Suzanne Adely of the Arab American Action Network, 773-580-4075; e-mail: suzanneadely@msn.com News Advisory: -- Chicago Families Protest Increasing Racial Profiling in the Era of the War on Terror: Community Hearings to be Held on Anniversary of the Patriot Act. WHAT: "The Public Truth: A Hearing on Racial Profiling of Immigrants and People of Color." On Saturday, October 18 and Monday, October 20, public officials, community leaders and local residents will gather for a two-part public hearing featuring personal accounts of Chicago area residents affected by new Homeland Security policies such as the USA PATRIOT Act and "special registration," as well as by increased racial profiling by local law enforcement. A Public Truth Commission composed of public officials and community leaders will hear testimony from residents, advocates and experts about the impacts of discrimination on immigrants, refugees, and communities of color. Sponsors: Amnesty International; Applied Research Center; Arab American Action Network; Coalition of Asian, African, European and Latino Immigrants of Illinois; Justice Coalition of Greater Chicago; and Southwest Youth Collaborative. WHEN: Press Conference: Saturday, October 18, 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Public Hearing Part 1: Saturday, October 18, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., featuring stories from community residents who have experienced racial profiling and unfair treatment. Public Hearing Part 2: Monday, October 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., featuring testimony from advocates, scholars and representatives from law enforcement. WHERE: Press Conference and Public Hearing Part 1: New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, 740 E. 77th St., (77th & Cottage Grove), Public Hearing Part 2: DePaul University's Egan Urban Center, 243 S. Wabash (9th Floor) WHO -- Testimonies: -- A Pakistani man detained after double parking -- A Palestinian man denied medical attention while detained at Special Registration -- A Mexican woman to be deported after Operation Tarmac raids -- An African American man wrongfully convicted of armed robbery -- A Japanese American connects World War II internment to present day conditions. -- Scholars and advocates from civil rights, immigrant rights, human rights and social justice organizations, as well as law enforcement representatives o Public Truth Commission Members Invited: -- Hayelom Ayele, Director of Community Liaison for the Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Immigration and Refugee Affairs -- Kareem Irfan, Chicago Board Chair of the Council of Islamic Relations -- Aaron Patterson, Former Death Row Inmate and Leader in Anti-Death Penalty Work -- Camille Odeh, Executive Director of the Southwest Youth Collaborative -- Jesus Garcia, Little Village Community Development Corporation |