As concerns mount regarding the anti-immigrant proposals known as HB 87 and SB 40, thousands of Georgians from across the state are gearing up to protest at the capitol to show their opposition to these bills and the law makers who persist in pushing them. Opposition to the bill comes from a broad based constituency who point to clear evidence that the bill will harm Georgia’s economy, kill jobs, encourage racial profiling, and return Georgia to a ‘show me your papers’ state. This is an important community issue for Caribbeans – we need to galvanize to stop this practice of villianizing the immigrant community.
“Thousands of Georgia immigrants and allies are coming together to say no more to racial profiling and no more to the dangerous and unfair targeting of immigrant communities and communities of color,” said Adelina Nicholls, Director of the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR) and one of the rally’s central organizers. “It makes no sense that Governor Deal seems intent on supporting legislation that will bankrupt the state – both morally and financially. We call on him to veto such misguided policy.”
The rally will include several high profile speakers and performers such as the Georgia-based rock duo, the Indigo Girls, and will open with an Interfaith Service where Rabbis, Pastors, Imams, and a Buddhist monk will jointly bless the group and their mission. Feeder marches are also planned such as a Student March organized by the Amnesty International chapter, beginning at Library Plaza on the Georgia State University Campus at 10:00am. They will join hundreds of High School students from Forrest Park. Vans and buses will also be arriving from many parts of the state including Tifton, Gainesville, Dalton, Athens, Statesboro, Albany, Fort Valley and more.
WHO: Thousands of representatives of labor, faith-based groups, immigrants, the civil rights community, students, business leaders, and elected officials
WHAT: A massive rally and protest to defeat HB 87, SB 40 and all Arizona-Style Legislation in Georgia
WHERE: Capitol Steps facing Washington Street, Atlanta, GA
WHEN: Thursday, March 24th 11:00am – 2:00pm
PROGRAM DETAILS:
Interfaith Service: 11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Speakers representing the diversity of opposition: 12:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Speakers and available media spokespeople will include:
- Georgia State Senator Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta)
- Georgia State Senator Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta)
- Georgia State Representative Pedro Marin (D-Norcross)
- Georgia State Representative Yasmin Neal (D-Jonesboro)
- City Councilman Cyril Mungal, Stone Mountain
- Jerry Gonzalez, Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO)
- Helen Butler, Executive Director of the of the Coalition for the People’s Agenda
- Travis Kim, President of the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia
- Teodoro Maus, President of Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights
- Gina Perez, Georgia Dreamers
- Azadeh Shashahani, ACLU of Georgia
- Tricia Sung, OCA-Georgia: Hopes and Aspirations of Asian Pacific Americans
- Helen Kim, Asian American Legal Advocacy Center of Georgia
Contact media contacts listed above for more information.
English, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese interviews available
