Dec. 18 Event Planned Celebrating International Day Of Migrants

AUSTIN, TX -- Hermanos en el Camino, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin Inside Amigos, The Foundation for Sustainability and Peacemaking in Mesoamerica, Austin Sanctuary Network & Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera will organize Dia Internacional del Migrante to celebrate immigrants in the greater Austin area, who migrated here in a variety of ways from many countries. The event will be held on International Migrants Day, Dec. 18 from 6 PM - 8 PM.

International Migrants Day was declared by the United Nations on Dec. 4, 2000 with former UN Secretary - General António Guterres proclaiming, "Migration has always been with us. Climate change, demographics, instability, growing inequalities, and aspirations for a better life, as well as unmet needs in labour markets, mean it is here to stay. The answer is effective international cooperation in managing migration to ensure that its benefits are most widely distributed, and that the human rights of all concerned are properly protected."

The event will feature guitarist Ángel Ibañez performing in between speeches and himself an immigrant of Mexico City. Speakers for the evening will include Sulma Franco, Activist and Organizer with Austin Sanctuary Network, who in 2014 took sanctuary at First Unitarian Universalist Church to prevent her deportation and who now holds a U.S. resident card. Additional speakers include, Chencho Alas, the Executive Director and Founder of the Foundation for Sustainability and Peacemaking in Mesoamerica; Banafsheh Madaninejad, Professor of Religious Studies at Southwester University; Deborah Alemu, an immigrant activist from Ethiopia/Sweden; Antonio Herrera, Director and Founder of El Centro Comunitario Monseñor Romero, and Edwin Murillo, Salvadoran activist for the TPS Campaign, Dallas; and Claudia Muños, Immigration Program Director for Grassroots Leadership.

Event will provide child care, however, RSVP required. Email RSVP at childcare@austinuu.org, please be sure to include the number of children needing care. To volunteer for the event, email insideamigos@austinuu.org.

For complete event details, click HERE.

Photo by Don Ross III on Unsplash