For Immediate Release
December 15, 2021
A livestream of the walkout and rally will be found on Facebook and Instagram.
WHAT: A city-wide student walkout followed by a rally where HANA Center’s FYSH youth leadership council members and their peers will speak out to demand Senator Durbin deliver a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants this year.
WHO: HANA Center, FYSH (Fighting Youth Shouting Out for Humanity), Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago, NAKASEC Action Fund
WHERE: Rally at Horner Memorial in Horner Park (Montrose & California Ave)
WHEN: Wednesday, December 15th 2021, rally begins at 11AM (student walkout to happen 10AM-11AM)
WHY: On November 19th 2021, the House passed the Build Back Better (BBB) Act with a temporary measure and without a pathway to citizenship. As BBB moves to the Senate, Senator Durbin, as Senate Majority Whip and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has the power and responsibility to take all steps to create the most favorable conditions for a pathway to citizenship in the Budget Reconciliation. Immigrant youth and their families have been working far too long for permanent solutions. Senator Durbin must use his leadership to fight for a pathway to citizenship for our communities so they can live their full lives.
VISUALS/PROGRAMMING: Youth will walk out of their schools during class time and arrive at Horner Park at 11AM. Rally will feature impacted student speakers, pungmul (Korean traditional drumming), and holiday carols with remixed lyrics (including “All We Want from Durbin is Citizenship”). Participants will wear “Citizenship4All” Santa hats and hold signs and artwork created by youth, including cardboard cutouts of Senator Durbin & Senator Schumer dressed as the Grinch.
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Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago builds power through collective advocacy and organizing to achieve racial equity. Learn more at www.advancingjustice-chicago.org.