Today is a big day for immigrant rights in Chicago and many other cities as the next round of big immigrant rights marches begins. Last night, CBS, ABC, and even Fox put today's big immigration march on the top of the 10:00 news. It beat out Mayor Daley going to Jordan for that top spot. 300,000 people are expected - dwarfing the last march of just over 100,000.
I'll be in attendance, and will be taking pictures, which I will post as soon as I can on my immigration law and policy blog: New America.
If you are in Chicagoland, hope you can make it for some or all of the events.
Chicago Schedule
10 a.m. -- Two feeder marches will head toward Union Park, where a larger crowd will assemble to begin its march to Grant Park. The feeder marches will start at Milwaukee and Ashland Avenues on the North Side and Ashland Avenue and 19th Street on the South Side.
10:45 a.m. -- At Union Park, scheduled speakers include U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) and state Sen. Miguel del Valle (D-Chicago).
12 p.m. -- Marchers will leave Union Park and head to Grant Park. Their route: east on Randolph Street to Haymarket Square, south on Desplaines Street, east on Jackson Boulevard, south on Columbus Drive, ending at Lower Hutchinson Field near Balbo Drive.
2 p.m. -- Rally begins at Lower Hutchinson Field. Scheduled speakers include U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and state Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago).
4 p.m. -- Interfaith prayer service begins at Lower Hutchinson Field. Scheduled speakers include Cardinal Francis George.
4:30 p.m. -- Rally scheduled to end.
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Immigration events planned in suburbs
Elgin
4 p.m.: Immigrant Rights March
March will begin at Lords Park (corner of Franklin and Grand Boulevards) and ends at Old Elgin Library (270 N. Grove Ave.)
Aurora
3 p.m.: Immigrant Rights March
March will begin at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (corner of Fulton and State Streets) and end at McCullough Park (adjacent to Prisco Center, corner of Lake Street and Illinois Avenue.)
Joliet
9:30 a.m.: Rally for Immigrant Families
The rally will be held at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 205 E. Jackson St.
Cicero
3 p.m.: Rally for Immigrant Rights
The rally will be at Albright Field, 50th Street, Cermak Road.