Masks are optional but will be available. This event is wheelchair accessible. Visit our accessibility page for entry instructions.

Immigration, Borders & Sanctuary:
A Panel Discussion With Kerry Pimblott, Lucia Maldonado, and Brian Dolinar

Tuesday, April 8, 7pm

Independent Media Center

202 S. Broadway, Urbana

In-person

Image: In the mid 1980s, a sanctuary campaign was mounted in Manchester, England
to halt the deportation of Viraj Mendis, a Sri Lankan man, and to stop all deportations. 

Description: 

Come out for a panel discussion about campaigns to fight deportations — in the current moment and historically; in Urbana-Champaign and internationally. Come listen to Kerry Pimblott, former C-U resident now living in Manchester, England talk about her recent research about the long movement to build sanctuary communities. Lucia Maldonado and Brian Dolinar will talk about their collaboration to support immigrant families and expose federal agents disappearing our neighbors. 

Panelists:

Kerry Pimblott is a Senior Lecturer in International History at the University of Manchester where she writes and teaches on global movements for economic and racial justice. Pimblott’s research grows out of longstanding involvement in grassroots labour and anti-racist organisations working to challenge state violence and its impact on racialised and working class communities. During her graduate school years at Illinois, she was a member of CU-Citizens for Peace & Justice and the Graduate Employees Organisation (GEO, Local 6300). In Manchester, she is a founding member of the Race, Roots & Resistance Collective which is dedicated to critical research and action on racism in the places we live, study and work.

Lucia Maldonado works as a Latino Family Liaison for the Urbana School District. As a Liaison, she connects families with resources, helps them navigate the school system, and provides ongoing support in a variety of ways. In addition to her work with parents and families, in the last years she’s been working closely with immigrant children from Central America who are in the community unaccompanied. Lucia is an advocate for immigrants and a voice for those who need to stay silent due to their immigration status.

Brian Dolinar is a community journalist who has been based in Champaign-Urbana for 20-plus years. His articles have appeared at The Appeal, Chicago Reader, Counterpunch, In These Times, The Nation, Prison Legal News, and Truthout. You can follow his writings by subscribing to his Substack, “Sentences: Writings About Mass Incarceration.”