Media Advisory: CAIR-Chicago to Join Vigils for Peace in Gaza & MLK's Legacy
(CHICAGO, IL, 1/19/09) - The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is co-sponsoring two vigils today that will celebrate Martin Luther King's fight for justice and human rights, and in the spirit of his work, call for peace in Palestine. One vigil is being held by children and mothers in an effort to draw attention to the huge number of children, women and other non-combatants killed in the Israeli assault on Palestine. The second vigil will be an interfaith gathering of Jews and Muslims both calling for an immediate end to the devastation and siege of Gaza. Children's Vigil for Peace in Gaza
WHEN: 1:00 PM, Monday(TODAY), January 19, 2009
WHAT: Vigil to honor MLK and the innocent civilians and children killed in Gaza
WHERE: Federal Plaza, 50 W. Adams, (corner of Adams and Dearborn Street)
WHO: CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director, Christina Abraham; other noted speakers
SPONSORS: Coalition for Justice in Palestine (this Coalition consists of the Chicagoland Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and Arab Church organizations that formed when the attacks on Gaza began); and endorsed by (list in formation): 8th Day Center for Justice, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)-Chicago, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), ANSWER Chicago, Arab American Action Network (AAAN), Arab Jewish Partnership for Peace and Justice in the Middle East, Arab Student Union-Moraine Valley Community College, Centro Sin Fronteras, Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism (CCAWR), Chicago Islamic Center, Children of Palestine, Comite Anti-Militarizacion (CAMY), Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), Fight Back! Newspaper, Guadalupe Mission-Little Village, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN), International Solidarity Movement (ISM)-Chicago, Islamic Community Center of Illinois (ICCI), March 10th Movement, Mosque Foundation, Muslim American Society (MAS) Freedom Foundation, Muslim Student Association (MSA)-University of Chicago, National Boricua Human Rights Network, Palestine Solidarity Group (PSG)-Chicago, Palestine Humanitarian Aid Project (PHAP), Palestinian American Community Center, Peace Pledge-Chicago, Southwest Youth Collaborative, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)-DePaul University, SJP-Northwestern University (NU), SJP-University of Illinois-Champaign, SJP-University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), United Holy Land Fund (UHLF), United States Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)-Chicago, Voices for Creative Non-Violence, Wright College Students for Peace and Justice, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) - Chicago
Vigil for Gaza in Oak Park
WHEN: 4:00 PM, Monday(TODAY), January 19, 2009
WHAT: Vigil to honor MLK and call for an end to the occupation of Palestine
WHERE: Scoville Park, Oak Park (the northwest corner of Lake Street and Oak Park Ave)
WHO: CAIR-Chicago Executive Director, Ahmed Rehab; other noted activists
SPONSORS: American Friends Service Committee, Chicago Faith Coalition on Middle East Policy, Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace - Chicago, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) - Chicago
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CAIR-Chicago, a chapter of America's largest Muslim civil rights group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director, CAIR-Chicago, E-Mail: director@cairchicago.org, 312.212.1520; or 202.870.0016; Reem Rahman, Communications Coordinator, CAIR-Chicago, 217.493.0912 and Amina Sharif, Communications Coordinator, CAIR-Chicago, 630.935.5562; E-Mail: communications@cairchicago.org