Activists unite in immigration march

Latinos, mostly, but also African, Arab and Asian immigrants, Teamsters, Communists, lesbians and gays, Iraq war and NAFTA protesters and thousands of other activists demonstrated for immigrant, worker and human rights during the third-annual May Day march in Chicago.

The nationwide marches, which in 2006 drew an estimated 1 million demonstrators -- 400,000 in Chicago alone -- were far more modest this year both here and across the country.

About 15,000 demonstrators, far fewer than the 50,000 organizers had hoped to attract, gathered at Chicago's Union Park and then marched to Federal Plaza.

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They carried banners calling for a stop to deportations and amnesty for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants residing in the country. They wore Sox hats and sombreros; waved American, Mexican and Puerto Rican flags; and chanted the requisite "Si, se puede."

Activists said this year's efforts were focused less on protests and more on voter registration and setting an agenda for the next president.

All three presidential candidates have studiously avoided the topic of immigration reform, making this year's march particularly crucial, said organizer Rosi Carrasco, of the March 10th Movement. "We want to make sure that legalization and immigration is something that will be discussed by candidates in this electoral year," she said.

Many marchers emphasized that the success of the march would be measured in the days, weeks and months to come.

"It's not the numbers that are important, but the sentiment," said Addison resident Rita Gonzalez.

The sentiment was unity among disparate groups fighting for people and causes on the margins, marchers said.

"People try to pigeonhole (immigration reform) as just a Latino issue, but we're a very diverse group," said Cristobal Cavazos of Immigrant Solidarity DuPage. "This year we doubled-up efforts to get people from other communities."

As Cavazos weaved through the crowd, he was greeted and embraced by marchers from half a dozen different groups.

"We're all at a lot of these events," he said. "We know a lot of these people."

Eunyoung Lee of Glenview said she marched to support her undocumented friends, many of whom did not learn their parents had brought them to the country illegally until they began to apply to college.

"They're all Asian, not Latino. They're from the suburbs. It just shows this affects everyone," Lee said.

The presence of other protest groups was more apparent than in years past, in part because representation from Latino groups was thinner.

The fear triggered by recent federal and local crackdowns on illegal immigrants kept many at home this year.

"Some people were too afraid to come, but we're still here letting people know that we're still fighting," said Jorge Guzman, noting that only two buses were required to bring him and other demonstrators from Waukegan this year. Last year 12 buses made the trip.

Others also were undeterred.

Ezequiel Ortiz of Bolingbrook has taken part in every May Day march in Chicago since 2006. He and his sister work in a factory and have lived in the United States illegally for 17 years.

"This country helps us, but we help this country too," he said.

Many of the signs and protests focused on the rights of workers -- those here legally and illegally.

"May Day is a historical day. It goes way beyond Mexico, legalization and immigration," said Robert Hughes of Oak Park. "This is workers' day, and we support workers and their struggles all over the world."

Others found the relationship between immigration reform and International Workers' Day -- which commemorates the labor riot at Hay Market Square in Chicago that left at least a dozen people dead -- imprudent.

"My advice to some of these organizers would be to pick a day other than May 1, which is associated with rebellion, leftist ideals and anarchy," said University of Illinois Chicago economics Professor Barry Chiswick, an expert in immigration reform. "What these (illegal immigrants) want to convey, is that if given the OK, they would be law-abiding citizens."