For Immediate Release Contact: Jeong Yeon Hong, 323-937-3703
June 18, 2007
[Washington, DC] On June 18, 300 young people around the country dressed in caps and gowns took part in the "Don't Just DREAM, Act" Graduation Ceremony at the Lutheran Church of Reformation on Capitol Hill. Sponsor of the bill Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) gave inspirational words of hope to immigrant students. Also in attendance were Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). Korean American youth from Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York joined with students from CA, FL, ID, IL, KS, MA, MD, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI, TN, and TX to urge support for the DREAM Act ( H.R. 1275 and S. 774). The DREAM Act is legislation that would give immigrant students in the US a chance at college and a way to contribute fully to this nation.
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NAKASEC and its affiliates – the Korean Resource Center in Los Angeles, the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center in Chicago, and YKASEC-Empowering the Korean American Community in New York – played a central organizing role in this effort.
Pictures attached. Interviews available upon request. Contact Jeong Yeon Hong at 323-937-3703 extension 204.