Balloon Release in Support of the Dream Act
Fernando Martinez
Published: September 29, 2009
On Wednesday September 23, a coalition of organizations from around Chicago came together in Pilsen for a National Day of support for the Dream Act. The event was organized by I.D.E.A. (Illinois DREAMers for Educational Access), a coalition of groups made up of Dream Action, KRCC and Latinos Progressando. The event was organized to support the Dream Act, a bill that would allow undocumented students to gain temporary residency for two years if they have been in this country for more than five years and want to pursue higher education or enroll in the military. Once they have completed the two years of residency they would be allowed to become permanent residents.
The event began with a performance from the youth from KRCC (Korean American Resource and Cultural Center). Then former Alderman and Illinois’ first Mexican-American state senator Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia spoke. He made it clear that he supported the Dream Act and that it is important that the Dream Act passes so these students with so much talent and potential can fulfill their dreams.
Jessica, a student, spoke of her experience and the experience that many other students have to face each year. Each year, 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school. Those are students that will not be able to continue their education because they cannot afford it.
The event concluded as organizers of the event wrote their dreams on balloons. Then, as they resided the Pledge of Allegiance, they released the balloons.
Fernando Martinez is a Pilsen resident and an organizer for the Resurrection Project.
fmartinez@resurrectionproject.org
Posted in Community Events
