"No Hate in the Debate": Leaders of immigrant community urge candidates to refuse support of extremist groups

Candidates asked to sign “No Hate in the Debate” Pledge

 

CHICAGO, IL – Leaders of Illinois’ Latino and immigrant communities are urging candidates in the March primary election to defend the legislative achievements of the state’s Latino and immigrant residents by refusing support from extremist individuals or organizations with anti-immigrant agendas.  

“In recent years, we have worked hard to achieve important gains for Latinos and immigrants in Illinois,” said Maria Pesqueira, Vice President of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. “We cannot allow the achievements we have made for our community to be threatened by the enemies of our goals, or allow members of our community to be manipulated by anti-immigrant groups.”

A broad alliance of immigrants’ rights and faith leaders including the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and leaders of the Latino, African, Asian, Muslim, and Jewish communities are urging candidates to commit to rejecting any direct or indirect campaign support from individuals or groups that have vocally opposed and attacked efforts or legislation that strengthen the rights of Illinois immigrants.  The alliance specifically noted the Illinois DREAM Act, which creates a college scholarship fund for the children of immigrant parents and gives them access to state college savings programs, and the preservation of a Latino congressional district in the state’s recent redistricting process, which ensures Latinos a strong voice in the decisions made by the federal government.

The alliance said that candidates will be asked to sign a pledge stating their commitment to refuse any association with individuals or entities that have taken public positions counter to the rights of immigrants in Illinois, and to reject any direct or indirect campaign support from those groups or persons.  The alliance also said if any candidate receives coordinated or uncoordinated campaign expenses or support from anti-immigrant individuals or groups, then that candidate should join with the alliance to publicly disavow such support.

“We’re at a very critical juncture in the history of our state and nation,” Hoyt said. “The animosity towards immigrants has been poisonous in recent years.  At a time when we are struggling for the humane treatment of all Illinois residents, we have to take a strong stand against individuals and groups who practice the politics of hate.”

For more information, please contact Josh Hoyt with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, at (312) 332-7360x 211.

 

“No Hate in the Debate” Pledge Letter

January 13, 2012

«Candidate»
«Address»
«City», «State» «Zip_Code»
Dear «Candidate»,

As leaders in Illinois’ Latino, immigrant, and immigrant rights community, we are extremely concerned with recent reports of efforts to manipulate Latinos for partisan political purposes by the enemies of immigrants’ rights.

In recent years, we have worked hard to achieve important advancements for Latinos and immigrants in Illinois, most recently the passage of the Illinois DREAM Act – which creates a college scholarship fund for the children of immigrant parents and gives them access to state college savings programs – and the protection of a Latino congressional district, ensuring our community continues to have a strong voice in the decisions of our national government.

We must not allow the advancements we have made for the Latino and immigrant communities to be threatened by the influences of outside adversaries of our goals, or allow members of our community to be manipulated by these extremist anti-immigrant groups.

As the primary campaign season begins, we ask you to take a stand against anti-immigrant hate in the debate and refuse association with or support from – direct or indirect – any individual or entity with a history of vicious statements or policy positions against the immigrant community and their rights.  We believe that candidates should refuse financial assistance and resources from any individual or group that opposes our agenda – specifically, opposition to the Illinois DREAM Act – and/or that supports other candidates for office who take strong anti-immigrant positions. 

Enclosed is a pledge we are asking candidates to sign stating your commitment to refuse any association with or support from – direct or indirect – individuals or entities that have taken public positions counter to the rights of immigrants in Illinois.  Furthermore, in the event that an individual or entity expends resources in support of your campaign – in either a coordinated manner or an uncoordinated manner – we ask for your commitment to join with us to publicly disavow such support.

Please return the enclosed pledge by Thursday, January 26, 2012 to:

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Attn: Josh Hoyt
55 E. Jackson Blvd., #2075
Chicago, IL  60604

If you have any questions, please contact Josh Hoyt at (312) 332-7360 ext. 211

Thank you for your cooperation.  We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hoyt
ICIRR
Lawrence Benito
ICIRR

Maria De Amescua
Activist

Carlos Arongo
Casa Aztlan

Artemio Arreola
FEDECMI
Jeff Bartow
Southwest Organizing Project
Daysi Funes
Centro Romero
Laura Garza
S.E.I.U. Local – 1
Betty Gutierrez
Southwest Organizing Project
Jose Luis Gutierrez
NAALAC

Ahlam Jbara
CIOGC

Alie Kabba
United African Organization

Tuyet Le
Asian American Institute

Rene Magana
CIME

Fabian Morales
CONFEMEX

Jorge Mujica
Coalicion Mexico-Americana

Abel Nunez
Centro Romero
 

Salvador Pedroza
Litte Village Chamber of Commerce

Maria Pesqueira
Mujeres Latinas en Accion

Jane Ramsey
Jewish Council on Urban Affairs

Raul Raymundo
The Resurrection Project

Hector Rico
Latino Organization of the Southwest

Michael Rodriguez
ENLACE

Mayte Ruiz
FEDECMI

Juan Salgado
Instituto del Progreso Latino

Juan Ochoa
MIRAMAR Group

Martha Quiroga
Fairfield Elementary School

Henry Zabala
Rico Graphics
 

 

Pledge for “No Hate in the Debate”

I, ________________________, pledge to the residents of the _______ District of the State of Illinois and the defenders of immigrant rights
that I will refuse any association with or support from – direct or indirect – individuals or entities that have a history of anti-immigrant extremism in Illinois.  Furthermore, in the event that an individual or entity expends resources in support of my campaign – in either a coordinated manner or an uncoordinated manner – I commit to join with the defenders of immigrant rights to publicly disavow such support.

__________________________                    __________________________

Signature                                                            Date

 

Please sign, date and return this pledge by Thursday, January 26, 2012 to:
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Attn: Josh Hoyt
55 E. Jackson Blvd., #2075
Chicago, IL  60604