Activists Call On Rauner To Rescind Refugee Ban

Rauner Refugee protest
Photo by Michael Deheeger
Rauner Refugee protest
Photo by Michael Deheeger

Activists Call On Rauner To Rescind Refugee Ban

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Following the last November’s terror attacks in Paris, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner issued a statement:

“Our nation and our state have a shared history of providing safe haven for those displaced by conflict…but the news surrounding the Paris terror attacks reminds us of the all-too-real security threats facing America…Therefore, the state of Illinois will temporarily suspend accepting new Syrian refugees and consider all of our legal options…”

Some Illinois groups want Rauner to rescind his statement and a policy they believe creates an atmosphere of Islamophobia.

We learn more about the efforts to lobby Rauner to reverse his refugee policy from Eli Massey of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and Lesley Williams, chair of JVP’s Anti-Islamophobia Working Group and Ahlam Jbara.