Statement of Solidarity with the Independent Media Center

The Graduate Employees’ Organization at UIUC (IFT/AFT Local 6300) expresses our support for the Independent Media Center, a mostly-volunteer run non-for-profit community center in Urbana. We oppose the new city guidelines which impose a requirement that IMC events must obtain a permit at least 45 days in advance and at a cost of $100. These new requirements are overly onerous for a volunteer-run center, and will have a disproportionately negative effect on under-served, working-class, and youth communities hoping to hold events at the IMC.

GEO has hosted a number of events at the IMC in the past, from welcome-back parties to contract ratification votes. The IMC is a vital pillar of the community, and we hope the Urbana city council will help--not hinder--it in its mission to provide a safe, inclusive, and accessible space for the people of Champaign-Urbana.

Live coverage of the Urbana City Council meeting during the public comment section where GEO members read the above statement in support of the Independent Media Center.

The Graduate Employees’ Organization, AFT/IFT Local 6300, AFL-CIO, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, represents approximately 2,700 Teaching and Graduate Assistants on the UIUC Campus. In November 2009 and in February 2018, over 1,000 GEO members and allies participated in a strike to secure a fair contract and more accessible UIUC campus. With an active presence in the community, the GEO continues to work for high-quality and accessible public education in Illinois.

For more information, please contact geo@uigeo.org. More information can also be found on GEO’s website at www.uiucgeo.org.

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