BLACK CLERGY OPPOSE 287(g) in Gwinnett County
Found in Press Release
Written by ABLE
Posted on 2008-12-22

BLACK CLERGY OPPOSE 287(g)in Gwinnett County

For immediate release

Concerned Black Clergy (CBC) will hold a press conference on Monday, December 22, 2008 at 11:30 AM at Vicars Community Center, 838 Cascade Road, Atlanta, GA 30310, to announce their opposition to Gwinnett Countys implementation of section 287(g) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. Gwinnett Sheriff Butch Conway has applied for his county to participate in the program. CBC believes that 287(g) leads to racial profiling and disruption of families. They will be joined by a representative from Gwinnetts immigrant community who will share her perspective on 287(g).

Atlanta, GA, December 22, 2008 – – The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, Section 287(g), offers training to local law enforcement in identifying illegal immigrants and gives them the authority to enforce certain laws in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security. At the current time, Cobb County, Hall County, Whitfield County and Georgia State Police have obtained Memoranda of Agreement for participation in 287(g). CBC feels that 287(g) seriously increases the risk of illegal racial profiling, which has already been reported by some Latino churches in Gwinnett County. The agreement leads to the deportation of mothers and fathers of U.S. citizen children. We must address the issue of illegal immigration in ways that protect the security of the United States, keep criminals out of our country, but also provide a path to citizenship for the millions of immigrants who came to this country seeking a better life and have broken no laws since their arrival. We believe immigration is a complex issue that is best addressed at the FEDERAL level.

It is imperative that we unite with our Latino brothers and sisters who are facing unprecedented scapegoating in light of our national economic crisis. There is enough room at the table for all of us. Black, Brown, Yellow, Red, and White must unite for our common interests and goals. CBC asks other members of the African American community to stand with us in support of our Latino brothers and sisters as we join together to stop 287(g) in metropolitan Atlanta.

CBC is an organization of primarily Black ministers (and laity) of predominantly Black congregations in Metropolitan Atlanta. Our mission is to speak as a prophetic voice to the issues and concerns of the Black community.

For further information, please contact:

Reverend Darrell D. Elligan, President

Concerned Black Clergy

838 Cascade Road

Atlanta, GA 30310

404-755-4900 Phone, 404-799-8623 Phone

404-755-9922 Fax

pastorddelligan@bellsouth.net

www.concernedblackclergy.org