Dreamers, Allies Double Down to Pass Dream Before Congress Leaves for Holidays
With less than a week left in the 2017 congressional calendar, Dreamers, immigrants, allies, and advocates are doubling down at Dream Central – an 1,200 square feet of tent space on the National Mall, which will serve as the headquarters for the Dream Act campaign, and across the USA.
Over 900 immigrant youth, families and freedom fighters of all backgrounds are descending on the nation’s capital to push Republican and Democratic Members of Congress to pass the Dream Act before they leave for the holidays. Dream Central will be home to trainings, art, fellowship, meetings with Members of Congress and invitation-only public events.
Location of Dream Central: On the National Mall in Washington, DC, between 7th and 4th Streets NW and Madison Drive NW & Jefferson Drive SW (Between the Air & Space Museum and the National Gallery of Art).
Security Note: All reporters and visitors to the Dream Central tent must RSVP and receive a press credential. For security reasons, the venue is not open to the public. RSVP to Bruna or Nicky at the top of this advisory.
This Week at Dream Central, the Capitol, and Across USA
All times are local
Tuesday, December 19
7am (DC) ACLU and United We Dream flyered for the Dream Act starting at the Dream Central. Additional details available here.
Contact Bruna Bouhid, UWD (bruna@unitedwedream.org)
11:30am (DC): Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) will join former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Georgetown President John DeGioia at an art-themed event for undocumented youth. “Inside Out Dreamers,” a project of the artist JR, will conclude a 36-city tour in D.C. today. The press event takes place 11:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Building, 100 Maryland Ave. NE.
Contact Paola Ramos, Inside Out Trucks (paolaramosmontaner@gmail.com)
11:30am (virtual): The Leadership Conference Coalition has partnered with the Inside Out/ Dreamers Project and Emerson Collective to pull together the civil rights community and immigrant youth and Dreamers for a participatory art action (see Inside Out’s website above) and press conference on Tuesday, December 19th. RSVP here.
Contact Jordyn Bussey (bussey@civilrights.org) or Paola Ramos, Inside Out Trucks (paolaramosmontaner@gmail.com)
11:30am (DC): NAKASEC and its affiliates, the Korean Resource Center and HANA Center, educators and students from across the country will depart from Dream Central to do Congressional visits to demand Members of Congress pass the Dream Act by December 22nd. More information is available here.
Contact Sam Yu, NAKASEC (syu@nakasec.org)
12pm (New York City): Immigrant youth and families with Make the Road New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey and allies will rally outside Senator Chuck Schumer’s offices to demand that he bring home an approved clean Dream Act before the end of the year.
Contact Daniel Altschuler, MRNY (daniel.altschuler@maketheroadny.org)
1pm (Nashville, TN): Today more than a dozen immigrant youth will be visiting the offices of Senators Alexander and Corker to demand they pass the Dream Act before Christmas. They will be delivering Christmas ornaments representing their hopes and dreams for their future. This action is part of larger nationwide week of action urging Congress to include a legislative fix for DACA in the year-end spending deal before Congress adjourns for the year.
Contact Jacob Weinberg, Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (jacob@tnimmigrant.org)
1pm (Bethlehem, PA): ACLU is hosting a rally featuring the voices of Dreamers and community allies at Lehigh University.
Contact Deirdre Shannon (dshannon@aclu.org)
1:30 (DC): Representatives Luis Gutiérrez (IL-04) and Raul Grijalva (AZ-03) will lead a group of members who will fight for the Dream Act from the Capitol steps (East Front) to Dream Central immediately following the second series of tax votes to meet with Dreamers and state their commitments to protect immigrant youth from deportations by the holidays.
Contact Bruna Bouhid, UWD (bruna@unitedwedream.org)
3-6pm (DC): Immigrant youth walk to the Hill from Dream Central for Congressional office visits.
Contact Bruna Bouhid, UWD (bruna@unitedwedream.org)
4:30pm (Columbus, OH): Please join Columbus Dreamers and allies as we hold a vigil for the 7 undocumented dreamers and ally currently in jail and come together to pressure Senator Portman to take action NOW and protect Dreamers. At 4:30 pm a group of us will accompany Columbus children to deliver letters in support of a clean Dream Act to Senator Portman’s office and will join additional allies at 5 pm for a vigil with songs and chants.
Location: 37 West Broad Street Room 300 Columbus, OH 43215
6pm (DC): Candlelight vigil in solidarity with Dreamers and undocumented immigrants coordinated by MoveOn. Members of Congress will also be in attendance.
Contact Bruna Bouhid, UWD (bruna@unitedwedream.org)
Wednesday, December 20
11am (DC): The Largest Throw Down of The DC Take Over. Over 1,300 immigrant youth, families and allies will descend on DC from across the US to take action for the Dream Act.
Contact Bruna Bouhid, UWD (bruna@unitedwedream.org)
2-6pm (DC): Immigrant youth walk to the Hill from Dream Central for Congressional office visits.
Contact Bruna Bouhid, UWD (bruna@unitedwedream.org)
Thursday, December 21
2-6pm (DC): Immigrant youth walk to the Hill from Dream Central for Congressional office visits.
Contact Bruna Bouhid, UWD (bruna@unitedwedream.org)
