Interfaith Coalition to Rally Outside Rep. Kirk’s Office

(CHICAGO, IL, 9/29/09) CAIR-Chicago, along with a coalition of Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Korean, and Latino organizations in the 10th Congressional District will be holding a vigil today outside Congressman Kirk’s office to try and meet with him about Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR). The Campaign, Reform Immigration for America (RIA), seeks a humane and workable solution to the immigration issue as well as a path to citizenship for the undocumented. Seventeen out of nineteen Illinois Members of congress have met with RIA advocates to discuss CIR, but Kirk has now ignored four requests to meet.

SEE: Blank Looks Won't Fix What's Broken

Mark Kirk said on the floor of Congress that we should send more birth control to Mexico to help slow illegal immigration into the U.S. (Reuters, 6-22-07). Kirk also voted for the Sensenbrenner Bill which would have turned undocumented immigrants and their priests, nuns, doctors, and family members into criminals.

“This is not just an immigration issue; this is a human rights issue. All Americans should unite to fix this broken system that currently denies America a realistic, fair and humane solution to the issue of 10 million undocumented residents of the US,” says CAIR-Chicago Government Affairs Coordinator, Reema Ahmad. Ahmad will be speaking at the rally today and will discuss how Islam calls Muslims to take action for justice in their local communities.

WHAT: Vigil for Immigration Reform WHERE: In front of the office of Congressman Kirk, 707 Skokie Blvd. Northbrook, IL. WHEN: TODAY, Thursday, September 29, 3:00-4:00pm

CAIR-Chicago is a chapter of America's largest Muslim civil rights group, which 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.

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CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director, CAIR-Chicago, E-Mail: arehab@cair.com, 312-212-1520; or 202-870-0016; Amina Sharif, Communications Coordinator, CAIR-Chicago, E-Mail: asharif@cair.com; 312.212.1520 or 630.935.5562; Reema Ahmad, Government Affairs Coordinator, CAIR-Chicago, E-Mail: gov.relations@cairchicago.org; 312.212.1520