1000 to Rally to Support YES Vote

Sign of broad mainstream support for Constitutional Convention also launches aggressive canvassing push across Cook County

CHICAGO, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 1000 Illinoisans, including religious leaders, academics, community activists, concerned citizens and reform-minded elected officials will gather for an outdoor rally to call for a YES vote on Illinois' referendum for a new state Constitutional Convention. This is the first and largest rally in support of a constitutional convention in more than 40 years.

The rally also launches a three-week grassroots door-to-door canvassing plan across Cook County that will last culminate with a statewide election-day effort. Dozens of organizations with hundreds of volunteers plan to actively canvass for a YES vote.

When: 3:30 p.m. sharp, Sunday, October 12th, 2008

Where: Rice Park -- across Roosevelt Rd. from St. Ignatius College Prep

1051 W. Roosevelt Rd. -- between Morgan & Blue Island

Who: This Rally is being organized by United Power for Action & Justice, an organization of more than 250 churches, synagogues, mosques, community groups and community health centers from throughout Cook County along with their sister organization PACT (Public Action for Change Today). PACT is made up of young adult leaders from colleges, universities, churches, synagogues and neighborhood organizations throughout the Chicagoland area.

In addition to more than 1000 United Power and PACT members, the following reform-minded political leaders are confirmed to attend:

    --  Former state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (R-Riverside)
    --  Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn (D-Chicago)
    --  Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica (R-Riverside)
    --  Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin (D-Evanston)
    --  State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago)
    --  State Rep. Mike Boland (D-Moline)
    --  Springfield Alderman Sam Cahnman (D-Springfield)

Why: A Constitutional Convention provides an opportunity every twenty years for citizens of Illinois to overcome legislative inertia, fix failures of an imperfect government, reaffirm our rights and values as a people, and actively engage in the democratic process that keeps all Americans free.