Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., Park Forest Mayor John Ostenburg, left, and Friends of ALNAC at a recent rally in Tinley Park. (Photo: Gary Kopycinski Chicago, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Friends of ALNAC and the Rainbow – PUSH Coalition issued a press release today regarding a New Years Day Rally for the Unemployed. The event will take place at Rainbow – PUSH Coalition, 930 E. 50th Street in Chicago, IL, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
The release follows:
Dear Pastors, Clergy and Community Leaders,
Americans of African descent are approaching the anniversary of America’s true Independence Day. We are not speaking about the 4th of July which is known for fireworks, parades and marching bands. We are moving swiftly towards January 1st as we celebrate the 147th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s signing by executive order, the Emancipation Proclamation.
This courageous move of leadership presented the American people with the proclamation of emancipation that freed the slaves in the Confederate states. Slavery had become the Confederacy’s industrial and economic development strategy. It provided labor without wages with humiliation and degradation as job benefits.
Lincoln’s decision did more than lift the war to the level of a crusade for human freedom. It brought some substantial practical results, because it allowed the Union to recruit 180,000 black soldiers. Lincoln could later report, that "the emancipation policy, and the use of black troops, constitute the heaviest blow yet dealt to the rebellion." Slaves, the subject of Confederate oppression helped deliver themselves from their own condition by exercising their own decision to fight back.
As we head into 2011, we still see the unemployed struggle. We still see the homeless, even women with children with no place to go. Many are still succumbing to foreclosure and over 40 million Americans are receiving food assistance. We are asking for you to fight back. We are asking you to fight for your future job.
In the south suburbs, we are fighting to build the Abraham Lincoln National Airport. It will present itself as an economic engine to provide 15,000 permanent jobs. As Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, Governor Pat Quinn also by executive order can enter into a land lease agreement with the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission (ALNAC). ALNAC has a $400 million commitment from two world-wide developers as well as $1billion in bonds from other foreign investors to build the airport.
On January 1, 2011, we are celebrating Emancipation Day at Rainbow-PUSH with a "Rally for the Unemployed" at Rainbow – PUSH Coalition, 930 E. 50th Street in Chicago, IL. There we will take applications from those seeking work as well as have them sign petitions supporting ALNAC. We will then deliver all applications and petitions to Gov. Quinn, urging him to sign a lease agreement to build the airport that will provide thousands of jobs. In some areas of the South Suburbs, there are 60 people for every one job. In many areas of the Northwest Suburbs there are 3 jobs for every one person.
Many enlisted with the Union Army with the intent to fight to deliver themselves from slavery. We are asking to you to sign up to fight to deliver 15,000 jobs to the south suburbs, for you and your families. Now is the time to fight for your economic survival. Remember, we have never lost a battle that we have chosen to fight. We must fight economic inequities, not adjust to them.
To find out more about the "Rally for the Unemployed," contact Al Penn, Chairman of the Friends of ALNAC at 312.919.2864 or 312.473.0775 for more details.
Keep Hope Alive…
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.
Founder & President,
Rainbow –PUSH Coalition
