Jimmy Al-Daoud was not an American citizen.
But he was part of a family, who traveled to the United States lawfully in 1979 when he was just a baby and was then raised in America by a woman who became a citizen in hopes of a better life for her children. He was also part of a Christian community whose members knew what it was like to flee a country for fear of being persecuted for their beliefs.
These people along with community leaders and lawmakers, who are advocating an end to Iraqi deportations, are hosting a candlelight vigil for Al-Daoud, who was deported to Iraq in June and died on Aug. 6.
Tonight’s event will start at 8 p.m. at the Chaldean Community Foundation in Sterling Heights.
“This was suggested to us by Congressman Andy Levin and co-sponsor Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence in an effort to continue to raise awareness of the dangers of sending members of our Chaldean community back to Iraq,” said Martin Mann, president of the Chaldean Community Foundation, a human and social services organization that works to improve the stability, health and wellness of people through advocacy, community development and cultural preservation.
