The Long Island Immigrant Alliance (LIIA) will hold a rally Wed., Nov. 9 at Noon to Make Suffolk County a Hate Free Zone. Here is the announcement from LIIA:
On Wednesday, November 9th, LIIA, along with other Long Islanders, will hold a press conference and rally to demonstrate the vibrancy of the county’s immigrant community, and to insist on changes in the way the county government interacts with immigrants. It is time to move away from the politics of division towards a more welcoming and unified community that integrates all individuals. This rally calls for responsible leadership that is open-minded and free of political rhetoric.
“With a new administration coming into office, Suffolk County has a chance to turn around a decade of alienation of immigrants from their county government” said Patrick Young of CARECEN. This press conference and rally will call for active leadership from Suffolk County representatives to support and enforce hate free communities.
“I call upon the new County Executive and Legislature to adopt the recommendations submitted to it by the Long Island Immigrant Alliance. The well-researched set of recommendations lay out practical steps that elected officials, law enforcement officers, and educators can take to protect, respect, and promote the human rights of all Suffolk County residents” (Professor Greg Maney, Hofstra University).
“As students we have a responsibility to stand up for changes that will benefit our communities” stated by Kate and Preet, Social Work Interns: Stony Brook University. “We have the opportunity to come together to support a hate free Suffolk County that serves as a positive model for the rest of the country.” Accordingly, Omar Perez insists that “…for all of us to benefit we must reject intolerance”.
This rally was called by LIIA, an alliance of over 50 organizations serving immigrants on Long Island. It is part of a week of action “Understanding, Accepting, and Respecting our Cultural Differences” in commemoration of the life of Patchogue immigrant Marcelo Lucero.
What:Press Conference and Rally for a Hate Free Suffolk County
When: Wednesday, November 9th 2011 at 12PM
Where: Outside the Suffolk Legislature
W.H. Rogers Legislature Building
725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Smithtown, NY 11787
