[Peace] new immigration-rights group? - Tue 7pm, Champaign Public Library, room "C"

[Michael Mulberry]

Hey Stuart!

Awesome!  Thanks for the ministry you are doing.

If I can be support from afar, please let me know.  I always offer
delegations to Postville, Iowa. (always thought we could create a similar
model in Rantoul).    There are also immersion models out of Chicago--one
being done by the Chicago Religious Leadership Network.  Just go to the CRLN
website www.crln.org and scroll down to the BorderLinks reference.  These
might help people come back to the C-U area with a different perspective on
how to organize.  Just let me know.

I'm also taking a youth and young adult delegation to Chiapas, Mexico, which
will have immigration as part of its focus.  That takes off December 27 and
returns January 5.  Would love to have someone involved from the area.

Each faith, each denomination has developed a resource list for immigration.
 HIAS (Jewish) has great stuff.  I have helped put stuff together for the
UCC.  The ELCA, Pres. USA, and UMC all have great material.  If you ever
want a one page info sheet I and others have put together, please let me
know.  So many people in C-U are so dear to me.

There is so much hate out there.  Thanks for being one of the vanguards of
love and compassion.  Blessings on this continuing ministry

Grace and peace (not as the world gives),
Mike Mulberry

On Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 2:58 PM, Stuart Levy <slevy at ncsa.uiuc.edu> wrote:

>
> What:  Organizing meeting for an immigrants' rights group
> When:  Tuesday, Aug. 10th, 7:00-9:00 PM
> Where: Champaign Public Library, Robeson Pavilion room "C"
>
>
> Several of us [*] have been talking about ongoing action on
> immigrants' rights, sparked by Arizona's SB 1070 law, the
> prospect of similar laws in other states, and anti-immigrant
> feeling in general.
>
> We held a demonstration against SB 1070 and in support of
> humane immigration policies on July 29th, the day the Arizona law
> went into effect -- it was a symbolic occasion but only a small step
> in a long struggle.
>
> We're looking now at how to go further.  We have some ideas, and
> hope you will too.  Interested?  Please come to the meeting if you can
> (Tue 8/10, 7:00pm, Champaign Library room "A"), or let us know
> and we can include you in future mailings.
>
> [Besides the lists above, we're also blind-cc'ing people who'd
> been involved in the New Sanctuary movement in the past.  If you get
> this and aren't on the AWARE-Peace or CUCPJ-announce lists, and want to
> continue hearing about this effort, please let us know, too.]
>
>
> Some ideas we've talked about:
>
>   * Many people in the area are simply unaware of the issues
>        surrounding immigration in the US, and there's plenty
>        of misinformation going around.
>
>        We should assemble information, with SB 1070 and related
>        legislation as the core, to inform people, keep them aware of
>        current events, debunk myths, maybe provide alternatives
>        to anti-immigrant spin.  We'd probably prepare flyers, at least.
>
>        Those flyers could be good things to offer passersby at
> demonstrations.
>
>        This is a personal struggle.  How our country treats immigrants
>        isn't just a matter of "them".  A climate of fear affects us all.
>
>   * We should look to involve students, *and also* need to be
>        present to people in the community, who will be an anchor:
>        lasting support will come from people of the C-U community.
>
>
>   * We anticipate future events that will require quick action --
>        for example, anti-immigrant legislation in other states including IL
>        (or anti-immigrant editorials, or deportation raids ...).
>        We should assemble a response task force to be ready to speak out.
>
>
>   * Specific local action: Jimmy John Liautaud, owner of Jimmy John's
>        (with its national HQ in Champaign), has apparently actively
>        supported SB 1070.  In 2008, sent $10,000 (of his own money)
>        to a group supporting the reelection of Phoenix's appalling
>        Sheriff Arpaio.
>
>        We could mobilize around this.   For example,
>        could write to Jimmy John himself, inviting him to
>        publicly change his position and oppose SB 1070.
>        (This could be a private contact, or an open letter.)
>
>        We could choose some Jimmy John's locations and hold protests
>        outside them, urging the franchise owner of that shop
>        to make a similar statement.
>
>        If we think there's enough support, we could try to
>        organize a boycott of Jimmy John's.
>
> [*] People who've been meeting so far:
>   Allison McGillivray; Jesse Phillippe, Eric Heim (of ISO);
>   Celeste Larkin (La Colectiva); Paul Nolan; Stuart Levy (AWARE).
>   And at least 18 people attended the July 29th demonstration.
>
>


-- 
www.illinoismayaministry.blogspot.com
www.theunitedchurchofbyron.net

Peace is not the product of terror or fear. Peace is not the silence of
cemeteries. Peace is not the silent result of violent repression. Peace is
the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all. Peace is
dynamism. Peace is generosity. It is right and it is duty~Oscar Romero
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