'people marched for lawlessness in Chicago', says Rosanna Pulido of the Minuteman Project

BellevilleNewsDemocrat Tens of thousands of immigrants from all over the Chicago area, many carrying U.S. flags, marched into downtown Chicago on Friday in a show of support for immigrant rights. Shouts of "Si se puede" (Yes, it can be done) could be heard throughout city streets as the mostly Latino marchers descended upon the plaza across from the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, where they listened to speeches voicing support for pro-immigrant legislation and opposition to a measure that would toughen penalties for illegal immigrants. "Raise those American flags!" shouted U.S. Rep Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill. "This is our country, and this is where we will stay." The rally came as the U.S. Senate struggles with a bill to stiffen border enforcement and a new report estimates the illegal immigrant population has grown from about 8.4 million in 2000 to nearly 12 million. The peaceful marchers stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the plaza and its surrounding streets. Some carried signs that read "Keep our Families Together," "No human being is illegal" and "Do not criminalize the American dream." One group of demonstrators stood on a stack of Spanish-language newspapers to try and get a better view of politicians and others who came to speak, while others perched themselves atop the railings that mark the street's two subway entrances. Office workers watched the rally from the windows of nearby skyscrapers. Abigail Marquez, 35, said she came to the rally with her husband and teenage son to express her support for Latino issues. Marquez, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, said she did not expect so many people to participate in the march, organized by dozens of activist groups. "I had no idea. There are just so many people here," she said in Spanish. "I feel very happy because it shows that we are all united." From a platform, Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich addressed the massive crowd in Spanish, telling them that he is the son of immigrant parents and understands the issues that are important to them. His proclamation that "Ustedes no son criminales. Ustedes son trabajadores" (You are not criminals. You are workers) elicited loud cheers. U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush fired up the crowd with his chants of "Power to the People," while U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin offered a history lesson. "We should not forget that when the Irish came to Chicago they were hated," Durbin said. Mayor Richard Daley told the crowd that "everyone in America is an immigrant." Hours later, marchers still thronged streets in the city's downtown business district, clogging streets and preventing vehicle traffic from moving. Police said traffic had returned to near-normal levels by early evening. Abel Nunez, associate director of a social service agency that was one of the many organizations spearheading the event, said the goal was "to demonstrate to people that immigrants are here and we contribute to this country." "We're not here to make this country less safe, we're here to strengthen it," he added. The Illinois Minuteman Project, which is affiliated with a national volunteer civilian border patrol group that aims to stem illegal immigration, held a news conference before the march began to speak out against it. Rosanna Pulido, the group's state director, said she doesn't want to see Chicago become "sanctuary city" for illegal immigrants. "There are 14 million underemployed Americans. Don't they have the right to have a better life and support their families? Let's give them an opportunity because this is their country," she said. The march began at noon at a park several miles west of the downtown Loop business district. Police estimated that more than 100,000 people marched into downtown, shutting down traffic in the Loop and many surrounding streets. Students and housewives pushing strollers marched side-by-side with construction workers, mechanics and senior citizens. Some marchers called out the names of their neighborhoods or suburbs; communities across northern Illinois were represented. One worker said he hadn't seen that many people in the Loop since a ticker-tape parade was held for the Chicago White Sox after they won the 2005 World Series. "In terms of a protest, I've never seen anything this big. I'm impressed by the magnitude," of the crowd, said Tom Bonk. But one person who wasn't impressed was Pulido, who said the demonstrators essentially were promoting illegal immigration. "What it means is that 75,000 people marched for lawlessness in Chicago," she said. According to AlertNet The target of the protest was legislation sponsored by Rep. James Sensenbrenner, a Republican from Wisconsin, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives last year and is being considered in the U.S. Senate along with competing proposals. His bill would make it illegal to assist an undocumented immigrant, something that priests, ministers and other social workers have said would turn those who routinely help immigrants into criminals. Critics have said the legislation would stiffen punishments for millions of illegal immigrants currently in the country without creating a way to set them on a path to citizenship. So what. They are breaking the law now. If you aid someone in breaking the law then you are an accomplice. Right? Right. I have no problem with legal immigration but illegal immigration is a different animal. Illegal immigration is putting a strain on communities and states. I've read of several hospitals that have closed because they went bankrupt treating illegals without being repaid and here in NC we have trouble with medical bills for illegals and with illegals breaking more laws once here. The law is the law period.