Thousands in Chicago Hold Mega Protest Rally Amended Citizenship Act Call for Abolition of NRC & NPR
Braving the extreme cold wave conditions Thousands of the Indian-American community from various organizations hold a Peaceful protest in front of Indian Consulate located in Downtown Chicago to mark India's Republic Day and protest the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC), and the National Population Register (NRC). The rally was held was held on Sunday January 26, 2020, 1 p.m. -- 3 p.m. at Tribune Tower in Chicago.
More than thousands of people marched to the Indian consulate from the Tribune Tower in Chicago. Many of the protesters had come to the Chicago from other Illinois Suburbs on specially chartered buses.
The Coalition to Stop Genocide includes dozens of organizations, including Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), Human rights activist, student groups and several others. Several other demonstrations also organized same time at Indian consulates in the cities of Houston, New York, Washington, Atlanta and San Francisco. Many major European cities also holding same kind of Protest by Human rights groups and Indian Community.
The many protesters from around the Chicago and Nearby cities and states and describing themselves as representative of diverse and multi-faith Indian communities across the Chicago, demanded and urge that the CAA be repealed because it undermines India's secular Constitution. Throughout the Community leaders and speakers unanimously condemned the Indian government's decision.
The people who took part in the rally were waving Indian national flags and holding Play cards and Banners against the CAA and NRC. Protesters raised slogans in against of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CAA. Many Protester raising slogans about growing repression against the people of Kashmir. They keep Chanting Freedom. Freedom.
Mostly Protesters were Socials Workers, Civil Rights Activist, Community members, Local lawyers, College and university students, and religious and liberals' leaders, Labor Union Representative, Local Journalists, left and liberal intellectuals and community leaders from Asian countries. The protests in Chicago are comparing Modi administration to the Hitler in Nazi Germany.
The Program was emceed by Samah Maria student of Midwestern University.
Addressing the protesters, community leaders and Student leaders, which were included Rachel Ventura, Dr Inam Hussain, Ahmed Ullah Siddiqui, Irshad Khan, Nikhil Mundalaparthy, Syed Ilyas Quadri, Adman Yousuf, Aminah Ahmed, Saud Ghazanfar, Jay Becker, Pratiti Deb and Junaid Ahmed urged the audience to challenge a new citizenship law is unconstitutional because it treats Muslims differently from Hindus, Buddhists and other religious groups. Indian Constitution to remind each other of the secular and democratic principles in India was built on. We are promoting human rights in India and the US. The New Citizenship Amendment Act legislation is totally "unconstitutional and divisive" as it excludes Muslims and other community.
Speakers said, "The law violates India's own constitution, which occurs discrimination based on religion. Today, they excluded Muslims and tomorrow it could be Jews, Christians, Parsi, Jain, Buddhist, Sikhs, and Hindu Dalits." Excepts few speakers all the rally speakers were young from college and University.
At the end special prayer and Indian anthem was performed.