Stand with Philly's Afghan Community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Advisory
PHILADELPHIA, Penn., August 20, 2021—With the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, many Afghans are desperately trying to flee or taking cover for their lives. Afghans who assisted the US forces and related institutions are in special peril.
Certain of these Afghan allies are eligible for special protection and expedited visas from the United States. The US military is currently airlifting these Afghans to safety, but with a visa processing backlog and Taliban control of the Kabul airport perimeter, many Afghan allies have not yet been able to escape. Despite Taliban assurances to the contrary, reports are emerging that Afghan allies still in country are already being targeted. They and their families are in mortal danger.
Philadelphia is one of 19 cities across the US to resettle Afghan allies. It has a robust Afghan community in the Northeast, concentrated around Oxford Circle.
In order to show support for the people of Afghanistan and our Afghan community here in Philadelphia, three local refugee resettlement agencies—Nationalities Service Center, HIAS Pennsylvania, and Bethany Christian Services—and the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs will hold an event in conjunction with the local Afghan community this Sunday at 5pm at Tarken Recreation Center in Northeast Philadelphia. The event is free and open to the public.
The purpose of the event is to stand in solidarity, and to advocate for safe travel and expedited processing for those fleeing persecution. Attendees are welcome to make signs sharing messages of support and solidarity. The event will feature remarks and a prayer from community leaders.
Margaret O’Sullivan, NSC’s Executive Director, and Cathryn Miller-Wilson, HIAS PA’s Executive Director, will be in attendance.
EVENT DETAILS
Event: Stand with Philly's Afghan Community
Date and Time: Sunday, August 22, 2021, at 5pm
Location: Tarken Recreation Center, 6250 Frontenec Street, Philadelphia, PA 19111
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Nationalities Service Center (NSC) is a leading provider of comprehensive services for immigrants and refugees in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Our mission is to empower immigrants to thrive in our communities and pursue a just future. We offer a wide range of integrated services, including free and low-cost legal services, food access, health access, mental health treatment, job placement and readiness training, and ESL. By offering a truly comprehensive support system to our clients, we help immigrants to create safe, healthy, and self-sustaining lives for themselves and their families. Founded in 1921 under the auspices of the YWCA, NSC annually serves more than 5,000 individuals from 120 countries around the world—including victims of trafficking, torture, persecution, crime, and domestic violence. www.nscphila.org
