Huge rally held in Chicago for Solidarity with Kashmir

Hundreds of people, many of them were Holding Pakistani and Kashmiri flags. Kashmiri and several communities and religious peoples of Chicagoland gathered in Downtown from various parts of the Chicago Suburbs, raised slogans in against of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India.

A Big and Huge rally was taken out by The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago on Sunday, September 08, 2019 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. To express solidarity with Kashmiri people in front of the tribune plaza to raise their voices against India's growing repression against the people of Kashmir. The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) is a federation of over 60 Islamic institutions across Chicagoland. Many of the protesters had come to the Chicago from other Illinois Suburbs on specially chartered buses.

In the month of August Indian government revoked the decades-old special constitutional. The Indian government also imposed an unprecedented security lockdown and total communications blackout.

In the Rally Community leaders and speakers unanimously condemned the Indian government’s decision.

Members of civil Society, Socials Workers, Civil Rights Activist, Community members, Local lawyers, College and university students, and religious and liberals' leaders, Labor Union Representative, Local Journalists, Traders and Women social organization, several members Pakistan political parties and people from different community demanded that the trump government speaks out against human rights abuses in Kashmir.

The rally participants and Protester were holding banners inscribed with slogans in support of Kashmiri people.

Several Protester including women, older, children and youth from Chicago Holding big banners, placards and flags of Kashmir in their hands the young youth and highly charged protesters shouted slogans against India and in favors of Kashmiris' right to self-determination.

The protests in Chicago are comparing Modi administration to the Hitler in Nazi Germany. The Protester also said Kashmir is locked down completely 35 days ago, cutting off telephone and internet services and detaining more than 10,000 political and civil leaders. The rally program was emceed by Saba Khan.

Speaking to the rally Chairman of Kashmir Solidarity Council Mr. Javed Rather said, “Millions of Kashmiris have spent almost 35 days under a communications blackout with no access to phone or internet services. He further said that the Indian armed forces were denied basic human rights to Kashmiris. He said Kashmiris are not Indian No once force us turn to Indian. Kashmir would never have acceded to India. Both countries have nuclear weapons if war happened, it will affect the whole world."

Director of the Catholic-Muslim Studies Program Scott C. Alexander also address at the event. He said, “We want to show our solidarity with our Kashmiri brothers and asking Justice.” CIOGC Chairman Irshad Khan said, “Consistent lockdown by the occupation administration has led to severe shortages of children's milk, medicines and necessities, while telephone and Internet service are completely closed in the occupied valley. United Nation and Human Rights need to do something as soon as possible.”

Rufaida Hamid a Kashmir youth from Chicago said, “The occupation of Indian occupied Kashmir continues for more than a month. We don’t have any information about our family members. Chicagoland Kashmiris deeply concerned about the situation. The people of Kashmir are imprisoned in their homes, unable to communicate with each other.” She further said, “World community, including the United Nations and human rights organizations to take notice of the human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir.”

Several others Speaker also address on the rally, including Rabbi Brant Rosen from Tzedek Chicago, Beth Brown Pastor from Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church. They express solidarity with the people of Kashmir and humanity.

At the end special prayer was performed for Kashmir by local Imam.