Scenes from the march of several thousand from the start at Union Park, through the streets to its end point at Federal Plaza, as well as the annual ceremony at the Monument at Haymarket Square. This included an international delegation from Japan, which spoke against nuclear power. Although the issue of immigrant rights played an important role in the march, anti-war contingents were also evident. A unique aspect of the march this year was that it took place a few weeks before the big anti-NATO march, and so this action was also a dress rehearsal for that event on May 20. The police also made it a dress rehearsal, menacing the first amendment with their presence.
The range of speakers reflect the broad spectrum that the Chicago May Day march in recent years has embraced: Carl Rosen, United Electrical Workers Union; Micah Uetricht, ARISE Chicago; Shaun Harkin, May Day Organizing Committee; Adbul Malik Mujahid, Chicago Islamic Center; Scott Marshall, United Steel Workers; Tom Alter, Graduate Employees Organization; Cindy Louden, National Nurses United; Susan Hurley, Chicago Jobs with Justice; Cathy 'Sugar' Russell, Occupy Chicago; Crystal Williams, Chicago Teachers Union; Skinsuke Matsuzaki, Contingent Workers Japan; Tomoko Wada, Japan; Sanju Anita Gonzales, Teamsters Local 705; Chris, Southsiders Together Organizing for Power; Jackson Potter, Chicago Teachers Union; Mack Julion, National Association of Letter Carriers; Jose Martinez, Immigrant Youth Justice League; Jennifer Martinez, whose husband was deported to Mexico; Andy Thayer, Coalition Against NATO/G8; Virginia Miller, Midwest Workers Association. Length: 29:55.
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