On Monday the Council issued a press release condemning Israel's military campaign in the blockaded Gaza Strip. In Monday's statement the Council unequivocally described Israel's aggression as state sponsored terror

The Council calls upon all of its member mosques to make immediate arrangements to turn out the diverse American-Muslim community that resides in Illinois. Member mosques are urged to organize buses to facilitate easy transportation to and from the rally. Khateebs are respectfully requested to dedicate this Friday's Khutba to the suffering of the people of Gaza and the duty of Muslims to do their part to help alleviate the Gazans' suffering.

Over the past 16 years the Council has formed strong relationships with religious and community organizations throughout Illinois. The Council is calling upon its partners and friends and all people of conscience to step forward and work immediately to halt the Israeli assault on Gaza and to lift the blockade against the Palestinians of Gaza. The Council's partners and friends are also urged to stand with Muslim and Arab Americans this Friday afternoon.

What: An Emergency Rally & March Calling for the End of Israel's Brutal Aggression in Gaza

When: Friday, January 2, 2009 @ 3:00 PM Sharp

Where: Begin at Tribune Plaza, 435 N. Michigan Avenue & then march to the Israeli Consulate

Why: To stop the murder of innocent Palestinians in Gaza! To demand a balanced American foreign policy towards the Israel-Palestine Conflict! To end the Israeli occupation of Palestine!

The rally is organized/sponsored/endorsed by the following organizations: American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)-Chicago, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), ANSWER Chicago, Arab American Action Network (AAAN), Comite Anti-Militarizacion (CAMY), Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism (CCAWR), Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), Fight Back! Newspaper, International Solidarity Movement (ISM)-Chicago, Islamic Community Center of Illinois (ICCI), Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)-Chicago, Mosque Foundation, Muslim American Society (MAS) Freedom Foundation, National Boricua Human Rights Network, Palestinian American Community Center, Palestine Solidarity Group (PSG)-Chicago, United States Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)-Chicago *organizations in bold are members of the Council

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The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (the Council) is a federation of over 50 mosques and Muslim organizations throughout the metropolitan Chicago region. The Council’s members collectively represent over 400,000 Muslims. The Council works to coordinate the activities of the Muslim community as well as provide education, training, networking and advocacy to and on behalf of our member organizations.