Ramirez, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Clarke Convene The Power of the People Summit

CHICAGO, IL - Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03)joined by the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) cohosted a civil rights summit, The Power of the People Summit: Building Coalition to Protect our Civil Rights. Ahead of what is considered to be President Trump's divisive State of the Union, the summit brought together over 80 diverse faith leaders, advocates, and organizers to build on the legacy of all those who turned shared struggles into coordinated action for collective liberation.

The summit included a panel discussion on organized work to protect elections and civil rights. It also included breakout sessions on coalition building, know your rights for legal observers, and know your rights for faith communities.

"Multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-sector spaces demonstrate that it is possible for people who are different in many ways to build together without sacrificing their unique identities, experiences, and backgrounds. There is power in our relationships and that power has the capacity to reshape our policies to honor our humanity and affirm our inherent worth and dignity," said Congresswoman Ramirez. "We remain committed to the really hard work of building coalitions - across our intersections and issues - and working hard not to let those who seek to destroy us divide us. Because solidarity and unity across our rainbow coalition are the resistance we need to keep us safe."

"I am so incredibly proud to stand in front of this multiracial, multisector coalition that has converged here today. In these most challenging days in our nation, we are bombarded with a constant stream of the worst of this country. Even the smallest of reminders of everything America is and all that America must be are welcome comfort," said Congresswoman Clarke during her keynote address. "You know as well as I do that we cannot yield an inch to those who would bring about the dawn of a new era of human exploitation, abuses, and discrimination."

"In the face of such horrors, I am not afraid because I know that we will act just as those who came before us did when they confronted the same forces of injustice and evil. I know that we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to obstruct, impede, and disrupt this administration's sinister plans. And we will continue to legislate, litigate, and agitate in the halls of Congress, in the courts of law, and in the streets of America," added Congresswoman Clarke.

The opening panel was moderated by Congresswoman Ramirez and featured Congresswoman Clarke as well as Sharlyn Grace, Deputy Public Defender, Policy at the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, Sheila Bedi, Chief Strategy Officer & Counsel to the Mayor, and Ed Yohnka, Director of Communications and Public Policy, ACLU.

To watch a live stream of the keynote speech and panel,CLICK HERE.

For photos of the event, CLICK HERE.