Illinois Members

Visit a Replica of a Guantanamo Cell  

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Racism, Mr. Doudou Diene of Senegal, has been on a three week mission to the U.S. since May 19 to meet with government officials, non-governmental organizations, and victims of racial discrimination.

During his three-week tour, the Rapporteur will visit New York City, Washington, DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami, Omaha, Honolulu, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Mr. Diene will meet with federal and local officials, lawmakers, and judicial authorities, along with representatives from civil society organizations and victims.

Midwest Regional Conference on International Justice
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Rome Conference Establishing the International Criminal Court (ICC)

WAUKEGAN, IL, Jan. 18—She is a homeowner, a taxpayer, a friendly neighbor and an American citizen. Yet because she is married to an illegal immigrant, these days she feels like a fugitive.

Whenever her Mexican husband ventures out of the house, “it makes me sick to my stomach,” said the woman, who insisted on being identified only by a first name and last initial, Miriam M.

“I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, he took too long,’ ” she said. “I’ll start calling. I go into panic.”

CHICAGO, Jan. 4 - Including his three-year stint with the U.S. Army, Rodrigo Alvear has worked for the federal government for 30 years, which he figured would make him a cinch for U.S. citizenship.

But almost five years after he applied, the Colombian immigrant who grew up on Chicago's North Side is still waiting to hear back on his case, among hundreds of thousands caught in a backlog caused by pending Federal Bureau of Investigation background checks.

Coalition to Protect Public Housing Member among the Protesters Arrested

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 15 - Residents and supporters gathered outside St. Bernard Housing Development on Saturday for a demonstration that was energetic and peaceful until local police, accompanied by U.S. military personal, arrived to clear the area. Three arrests were reported, including J.R. Fleming, of the Poor People's Economic Campaign for Human Rights and, MCHR member, Coalition to Protect Public Housing, who traveled to New Orleans with a group of young activists.

DePaul University College of Law (Chicago, IL) is offering a one-month summer program at the Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica from July 21 to August 15, 2008!

All around the world, Monday December 10th was recognized as International Human Rights Day. In an Op/Ed in Springfield, Illinois' The State Journal-Register, the Rev. Dr. Sid Mohn, President of the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights, asked readers to consider what needs to be done to secure our fundamental human rights here at home.

CHICAGO, Dec. 10 – A broad coalition of community and city-wide organizations, including two MCHR organizations, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and the Coalition to Protect Public Housing,  released a groundbreaking report today to the UN committee responsible for overseeing the U.S.’ compliance with the International Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination.

On Their Own: Protecting the Rights of Immigrant Children
The Third Annual Conference on Unaccompanied Immigrant Children

The National Immigrant Justice Center is organizing the 3rd annual conference on cutting edge issues involving unaccompanied immigrant children.