Family Values?

Sorry I've been terribly inactive lately. Liz and I just bought a new place and the move has left me tired, contently sore, and internet access-less. Hope everyone is well, and drop me a line if you get a minute. Peace!

In the meantime, here's a re-post from the South Asian Progressive Action Collective:

 THANK YOU to SAPAC for writing a letter in support of the Mujahid
family:  an udocumented Pakistani family of West Rogers Park who are in
danger of being torn apart.  Their hearing in immigration court is
tomorrow at 1 PM downtown. 
 
 There is one more thing you can do to stop the separation of this
family. We are asking people to please use your lunch hour tomorrow
Thursday, May 11, to support the Mujahid family. We need to demonstrate to the
judge that many people support this case. You do not need to bring
signs, etc., your simple presence is enough. Please note that you may need
to go through a metal detector.
> Please join us:
> This Thursday, May 11, 12:30 PM
> 55 E. Monroe, Suite 1900
> Courtroom A (for Judge Jennie L. Giambastiani)
>
> Thank you, please email or call me with any questions. Please forward
this message to friends and colleagues who work downtown.
>
> Mehrdad
>
>
>
> --
> Mehrdad Azemun
> Senior Organizer
> Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
> 36 S. Wabash Ave., Suite 1425
> Chicago, Illinois 60603
> tel 312/332-7360 x14
> fax 312/332-7044
> web <http://www.icirr.org>
> email< mazemun@icirr.org mazemun@icirr.org>
>
>
>   -----Original Message-----
>  From:  Mehrdad Azemun
>  Sent: Monday, May 09, 2006 1:44 PM
>  Subject: URGENT:  Help an undocumented Pakistani family
>  Importance: High
>
>
>   I am asking for your help to keep an undocumented Pakistani family
united. Syed Mujahid, the father of the family, has a hearing in
immigration court this coming Thursday, May 11. We are asking *both*
individuals and organizations to write letters of support ASAP. You can simply
email the letters of support to me. The Mujahid family's attorney and I
will forward them to the judge.
>   
>   You have likely read about this family's story a few years ago,
either on the front page of the Chicago Tribune or Chicago Reader. The
Mujahids were caught up in the federal government's disastrous Special
Registration program, and simply wanted to stay here to give quality
medical attention to their daughter Tooba, who suffered from cerebral palsy.
After quick organizing from the South Asian community, the federal
government allowed the family to stay. However, just two months ago Tooba
passed away and the family is left with little recourse. This family has
been through so much and showed guts, love and determination by
speaking out. Separating the father from his wife, his other daughter and the
resting place of Tooba would be immoral, especially for a family that
has been through so much.
>   
>   Thank you.
>   
>   Mehrdad Azemun
>   
>   You can read the Chicago Tribune story here:
http://www.aaiusa.org/news/must_read02_8_03.htm