Rally Against Islamophobia with JVP [Chicago] [Wed. 12-21 5pm]

[ckaihatsu]

Rally Against Islamophobia with JVP


Dear Chris,

The crisis of Islamophobia in America is nothing new. For years, Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim have faced oppression, hatred, and violence, from instruments of state and individual bigots alike.

But now, our work fighting Islamophobia is more urgent than ever before. Trump’s victory has legitimated and encouraged the open hatred that our Muslim neighbors are facing everyday. But this isn’t just about individual hatemongers. Trump’s threats of registries and immigration bans are all too real -- as though our current Islamophobic surveillance state wasn’t enough.

So with renewed resolve and commitment, we are taking to the streets. As we celebrate Chanukah, the festival of lights, JVP chapters across the country will be taking a powerful and visible stand against Islamophobia.

There’s an event happening near you:


In plaza in front of Wrigley building, on Michigan Avenue just north of river

12/21 5:00 PM


Email [email protected] for more details

As we come together to be visible, to take action, and to hold each other close in these desperate times, we’ll reaffirm our commitment to fighting Islamophobia, and take this pledge:

We will not be silent about anti-Muslim and racist hate speech and hate crimes

We condemn state surveillance of the Muslim, Arab, and South Asian communities.

We challenge, through our words and actions, institutionalized racism and state-sanctioned anti-Black violence.

We fight anti-Muslim profiling and racial profiling in all their forms.

We protest the use of Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism to justify Israel’s repressive policies against Palestinians.

We stand against U.S. policies driven by the “war on terror” that demonize Islam and devalue, target, and kill Muslims.

We welcome Syrian refugees and stand strong for immigrants’ rights and refugee rights.

We honor and support indigenous rights and the resistance led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to protect their land and water.


If you agree with these pledges, I hope you’ll attend the Chanukah action in your area -- click here for more information.

This is what it means to show up. This is what it means to take Trump at his word.

As Jews and partners, we have a responsibility to stand with and for the Muslim community. We can show that Islamophobia will not go unchallenged, in our streets or in our political system. We can show that our towns and cities will be safe spaces for all those who are marginalised.

And we can show that Jews and Muslim stand together, whether fighting Islamophobia, fighting antisemitism, or fighting for Palestinian human rights.

So this Chanukah, we'll be standing strong against Islamophobia and racism at vigils and actions across the country. I hope you’ll join us at one near you -- there’s never been a more important time to show up.

In struggle,

Rabbi Alissa


Rabbi Alissa Wise
Deputy Director


P.S. 28 JVP chapters are organizing Chanukah actions this year. We’ll be distributing at least 5,000 anti-Islamophobia posters, sharing our message with tens of thousands of people, and even have a surprise or two up our sleeves. Can you chip in $36 to help fund our fight?

Jewish Voice for Peace is a national membership organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for the freedom, equality, and dignity of all the people of Israel and Palestine. Become a JVP Member today.

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Tell Governor Rauner - Stop the Hate, Make IL Welcoming to Syrian Refugees


Take Action for Syrian Refugees this Chanukkah Is this email not displaying correctly?
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On Wednesday, we joined together with our partners at CAIR-Chicago, MAS-Chicago, American Muslims for Palestine, AFSC, CIOGC and Arab-American Action Network to demand Governor Rauner reverse his ban on Syrian refugees. See below for instructions on how to take action!
Governor Rauner - Reverse Your Ban on Syrian Refugees This Chanukkah


Dear friends,

My name is Eli Massey - I'm a member of Jewish Voice for Peace-Chicago and of Syrian Jewish descent. My ancestors emigrated from Aleppo, Syria in the early 20th century.

Aleppo once had a thriving Jewish community dating back to biblical times. During the Spanish Inquisition, they took in Jewish exiles. In gratitude, these Jews began a tradition of lighting an additional candle during Chanukkah.

Today, millions of Syrians are seeking refuge from violence.

That's why it was so despicable in November 2015 when Governor Rauner announced that Illinois would "temporarily suspend accepting new Syrian refugees."

He hasn't retracted the statement since.

Rauner's statement fed directly into an increasingly anti-Arab, anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant climate. He legitimized baseless fears of Syrian refugees and he stoked hatred toward Muslim and Arab communities.

How many more Syrian refugees would we have saved if we had a governor who showed leadership in making Illinois welcoming instead of putting up political roadblocks?

Join me! Contact Governor Rauner each day of Chanukkah - on his website, by phone and through Twitter - to demand that he publicly retract his announced ban, open the door wide for Syrian refugees and invest heavily in resettlement services.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION BELOW AND SHARE WIDELY!

Chanukkah begins tomorrow, Saturday 12/24, and ends on Sunday, 01/01. Every day of Chanukkah:

1) Post on his website at this link (feel free to personalize this template!): Governor Rauner - I am writing to demand that you retract your announced ban on Syrian refugees from November 2015 and commit to investing resources in refugee resettlement. The need to resettle Syrian refugees has never been greater. Your statements contributed to a toxic, anti-refugee environment that slowed resettlement and encouraged hatred toward Arab and Muslim communities. Illinois deserves better.

2) Deliver the same message over the phone: Call his Springfield office at 217-782-0244 (leave a message if nobody is there, or just make sure to call back during office hours)!

3) If you're on Twitter, here is a sample tweet you can use each day from 12/24 to 1/1: [email protected] take back your ban on Syrian refugees in Illinois and invest more resources for refugee resettlement. #ILWelcomesRefugees

Please report on any interaction you have at this link!

Go ahead - just start calling today, too! Thank you for your support and please share widely!

Eli Massey
Jewish Voice for Peace-Chicago

P.S.: Check out the coverage of Wednesday's action in the Chicago Tribune, on WBEZ's Worldview and in the Jewish Forward.


Sign up here to get action alerts and updates from JVP-Chicago (scroll down at link)!


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