Asians’ rally calls for more benefits

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Pan Asian Voter Empowerment (PAVE) Coalition organized its fifth annual Asian American Action Day in Springfield, Illinois on May 17.

Over 400 Asian Americans from across Illinois came to the State Capitol to advocate for issues such as a resolution to the state budget impasse and Automatic Voter Registration, while celebrating the passage of the Illinois Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.

Chants of “People Power!” and “Immigrant Power!” reverberated through the halls of the Capitol during the multi-lingual rally. Community leaders spoke about the growing Asian American population, and how the community held more power today than it had ever before.

“I know that our communities have power because every day I see immigrant families struggling to learn English, while taking care of their families, while helping their kids with school, and still, still fighting for their rights and the rights of others,” said Renuka Sharma of Indo American Center in Chicago.

Members of the coalition met with Governor Bruce Rauner, House Speaker Michael Madigan, and members of the House and Senate to call for the passage of a full budget that includes services for immigrants and refugees.

“Language access is a civil right and our community members, our families deserve to have their needs met,” said Michael Aguhar of the Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment. “That is why the PAVE coalition is fighting for the Immigrant Services Line Item and programs like the Immigrant Family Resource Program.”

For Automatic Voter Registration, members of the coalition met with key legislators to encourage a vote on the bill, which was proposed earlier this year and has been passed by 4 other states.

“Automatic Voter Registration will benefit the Asian American voters across Illinois,” said Selma D’Souza of Indo American Center. “We want Automatic Voter Registration because it simplifies the voter registration process, and empowers our community by removing another barrier that often stands between us and participating in this democracy.”

Members of the PAVE Coalition include Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago, Cambodian Association of Illinois, Chinese American Service League, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services and Indo?American Center.

Other coalition members are Japanese American Service Committee, Korean American Community Services, Korean American Resource and Cultural Center, Lao American Community Service, Lao American Organization of Elgin and Muslim Women Resource Center.