Media Advisory: Groups to Protest Congressman Kirk's Anti-Immigrant, Discriminatory Rhetoric

(CHICAGO, IL, 4/15/09) CAIR-Chicago is joining with other members of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) to rally against Congressman Mark Kirk's anti-immigrant stance. Congressman Kirk has supported numerous anti-immigrant bills and has said he is "...OK with discrimination against young Arab males from terrorist-producing states" (Sun-Times, November 6, 2005). Kirk’s extreme stances on immigration include advocating for: • Racial profiling [Chicago Tribune, 11/28/05; Chicago Tribune, 12/5/05; Chicago Sun-Times, 12/15/05] • Sending condoms to Mexico to curb immigration [Reuters, 6/22/07] • Blaming the high number of uninsured on undocumented immigrants [Mark Kirk, Wheeling Township Republican Meeting, 5/12/08] • Criminalizing priests, nuns, doctors, teachers, family members and anyone who has helped undocumented immigrants in their daily lives [House Vote 661, HR 4437, 12/16/05, Passed 239-182 R 203-17 D 36-164]

CAIR-Chicago is urging members of the Muslim community to come out and rally against these policies.

"Inciting suspicion of immigrant communities, as Congressman Kirk has done in the past with Muslims and Latinos, detracts from efforts to ensure an inclusive and safe society," says Reema Ahmad, Government Affairs Coordinator for CAIR-Chicago. "We need public officials to create just immigration policies that allow all communities to contribute to the fabric of our great nation."

WHAT: On Wednesday Congressman Mark Kirk plans a major speech at the City Club of Chicago. Outside hundreds will rally to protest his extreme stances on immigration. Immigrant advocates will urge Kirk to support just and humane immigration solutions, and to evolve past his extreme positions.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 15th, 2009, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

WHERE: 111 W. Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL

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CONTACT: Catherine Salgado, Communications Director, ICIRR, E-Mail: csalgado@icirr.org, 312.332.7360 x 235; Amina Sharif, Communications Coordinator, CAIR-Chicago, 312.212.1520; E-Mail: communications@cairchicago.org