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Apr 30, 2007 10:59 pm US/Central
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Police, Protesters Prepare For Immigration Rally
Organizers Expect Large Crowds; Police Warn Of Traffic Congestion
CBS 2's Katie McCall and Rob Johnson contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Pro-immigration forces made a huge splash last year with roughly 400,000 marchers in attendance.
Supporters don't expect those numbers this year, but its potential is so formidable that police moved the march's final destination from Daley Plaza to the much bigger Grant Park.
The rally starts at noon from Union Park at 1501 W. Randolph St. and will go eastbound on Washington Street to Desplaines Street, south to Jackson Boulevard and then east to Columbus Drive. It will end at Hutchinson Field in Grant Park.
As CBS 2's Katie McCall reports, police and organizers expect a big crowd. The original permit was for 7,000 people, but police say they expect the crowd to be more like 50,000.
Police warn that there will be major traffic congestion all afternoon and into the evening.
"We expect traffic congestion -- both pedestrian and vehicular -- during most of the day and into the early evening hours when the crowds start to disperse," said Charles Williams of the Chicago Police Department. "There will be rolling street closures and we strongly urge the public to use public transportation."
On the eve of another pro-immigration rally, organizers handed out credentials and t-shirts. Crowds may not be as big as last year, but given the inaction on an immigration bill and the recent federal raid on a Little Village shopping center, interest in Tuesday's march is gaining momentum.
"Hopefully by this show of support, by people supporting legislation, by people registering to vote, we'll see more movement and hopefully the Congress and the president will respond," said immigration reform supporter Jessica Aranda.
La Baguette Bakery is normally crowded at lunch time, but on Monday the Little Village eatery had plenty of open tables.
Felipe Cruz says business has been slow ever since last week's Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid. More than 100 people were handcuffed during the raid, which targeted a fake ID ring.
"There are fewer people in the streets, fewer people in here," Cruz told CBS 2 in Spanish. "Many people are afraid."
Local merchants plan to join a crowd Tuesday to march from Union Park to Grant Park, demanding an end to the raids and calling for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
Eighty percent of area businesses will close for the day to show support.
Marchers are also calling on Cook County Commissioners to pass an ordinance drafted by Roberto Maldonado. It would prohibit Cook County employees from asking about a person's immigration status during routine interactions, like traffic stops.
"We're telling our immigrant community we are with you; we support your contribution to our county," Maldonado said.
Once in Grant Park there will be speeches from Mayor Richard M. Daley and Commissioner Maldonado.
Board President Todd Stroger supports the measure.
"We're here to make sure people have what they need regardless of where they're from," Stroger said.
But both Stroger and Maldonado acknowledge the county has no jurisdiction over homeland security, so the ordinance will have no impact on raids like the one that took place here.
Marchers will start arriving at Union Park at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The CTA says 24 bus routes will be affected by the march Tuesday. For the complete list of those routes,
click here.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)