(CHICAGO, IL, 1/4/2024) - The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) is set to host a press conference on Thursday, January 4, at 11 AM at the CAIR-Chicago Azima Center, located at 17 North State Street, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60602. The press conference aims to amplify the voices of Chicago-area Palestinian-American families, alongside doctors and faith leaders, urgently appealing to Governor Pritzker, Mayor Johnson, and Congressman Sean Casten to intervene and address the critical humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. These families will share heart-wrenching stories of their loved ones reaching out for assistance daily.

WHAT: Press Conference Addressing Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

WHEN: Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 11:00 AM

WHERE: CAIR-Chicago's Azima Center, 17 North State Street, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60602

WHO: Chicago-area Gaza families, doctors and faith leaders

Featured Families:

1. Mohaned: Once part of the middle class, Mohaned's aunts, uncles, and their young children are now living on the streets of Gaza without access to clean water and food.

2. William: Reveals that over 209 family members have tragically lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes, with survivors enduring harsh conditions in tents without necessities.

3. Nabeel: Shares the devastating loss of 61 family members, including 3 month-old infant, buried in a single grave in Gaza. His uncle's once-thriving hotel, a life's dream, now lies in ruins.

4. Noor: Highlights the educational crisis in Gaza where her young cousins haven't attended school for 90 days due to the bombings, with over 200 teachers lost and 300 schools destroyed.

5. Reem: Exposes the mistreatment of her 12-year-old cousin by the Israeli army, forced to stand in the cold in his underwear, and another cousin suffering from a lack of medication.

Erin P.R. Davis, MCM, the Communications Coordinator of CAIR-Chicago states, "We stand united with Chicago-area Palestinian-American families, doctors, and faith leaders imploring Governer Pritzker, Mayor Johnson, and Congressman Sean Casten to heed the urgent calls for assistance. The harrowing stories shared on this day will paint a stark picture of families on the brink of starvation, facing unimaginable hardship in Gaza. It is a collective plea for compassion, humanity, and swift action to alleviate the suffering of these resilient families in their time of desperate need."

Live Coverage:

The press conference will be broadcast live on CAIR-Chicago's Facebook page.

Call to Action:

Chicago-area families demand compassionate action from local and state politicians to alleviate the suffering of their loved ones. Additionally, doctors and representatives from various communities, including rabbis, priests, and imams, will join the families to discuss the profound impact of hunger, disease, and death on Palestinian families.

CAIR-Chicago is an office of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance and understanding.  

END

CONTACT: Eman, 646-302-3149; Maggie Slavin, Operations Manager of CAIR-Chicago, 815-590-3991, mslavin@cair.com; Erin P.R. Davis, MCM, Communications Coordinator of CAIR-Chicago, 773-802-8786, epdavis@cair.com