It's a march many immigration activists were not happy about making. They hoped there would be immigration reform by now.
Instead, an estimated 150,000 protesters marched through downtown Tuesday and to a rally at a lakefront park to call attention to the issue again.
They carried with them American, Polish, Russian, Irish and Mexican flags, but also disappointment that the Democratic-controlled Congress voted into office last November has not approved legislation sympathetic to their cause."There's no reason a pro-immigration bill can't be passed. That's one of the messages being sent today," said Shaun Harkin, 34, of Northern Ireland, who has lived in the United States as a legal resident for 15 years.
Similar events also were held in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Detroit. Chicago's rally and march was at least the third such event in the city since a demonstration at its federal plaza on March 10, 2006, unexpectedly drew more than 100,000 people angered by a proposal to make it a felony for all illegal immigrants to live in the United States.
That demonstration was followed by a May 1 rally last year that drew at least 400,000 people to Chicago's streets and a smaller march in July.
As Tuesday's marchers reached Grant Park, the spot for their afternoon rally, the Chicago Police Department estimated turnout at 150,000, said spokeswoman Monique Bond. The march began in Union Park, about 3½ miles to the west.
Restaurant worker Luis Rodriguez, 34, participated with about 15 members of his family, all wearing red T-shirts that read, "Fighting For Our Future."
He has lived in the United States for 14 years as an illegal immigrant, but he has two children who are U.S. citizens.
"I'm here to support all the people that work hard. We deserve to be a part of the American dream," said Rodriguez, of Chicago.
After last year's protests, reform legislation stalled in Congress and bipartisan proposals for illegal immigrants to gain citizenship have gotten more conservative.
Immigration rights activist Gordon Mayer, however, was optimistic about the effectiveness of the latest push.
"This could be a tipping point, where there will be legislation recognizing that laws on the books now are a mess and don't recognize reality," said Mayer, a vice president of the Community Media Workshop, which helped organize the Chicago march.
As a gesture of unity, the majority of the crowd wore white T-shirts. Once they reached Grant Park, speakers included Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Chicago, and a marching band played in one corner.
Some families picnicked under the park's blossoming trees, others spread out in the grass of baseball fields. A few couples cuddled together, with American flags wrapped around their shoulders.
In an impassioned speech, Daley said it violated the American principles of compassion and understanding to separate families through deportations.
"We welcome immigrants to our great city," Daley said. "As we look at this skyline ... it was built by immigrants."
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