Thousands expected in immigration rights march
May 1, 2008
FROM STNG WIRE REPORTS

Thousands of activists are expected to march through the Loop Thursday in the annual May immigration rights march and rally. Police say traffic congestion should be expected during the afternoon and evening rush.

The city will close streets and initiate parking bans before and during the rally.

Last year, about 150,000 protestors marched in support of legalization for the estimated 12 million undocumented people -- about 400,000 in Chicago -- living in the United States. The 2006 rally drew an estimated 400,000 people.

The demonstrators will assemble at 10 a.m. at Union Park, and begin marching to Dirksen Federal Plaza, at noon. Marchers will walk east on Washington Street, south on Des Plaines Street, east on Jackson Boulevard and north on Dearborn Street, according to the Traffic Management Authority.

Rolling street closures and parking restrictions will be initiated along the route to minimize traffic delays and disruptions. Cross streets may also close to allow marchers to pass in a safe manner, the Traffic Management Authority said.

The Chicago Police Department, Office of Emergency Management and Communication, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Transit Authority, Department of Streets & Sanitation and other city agencies and businesses have been coordinating in preparation for the rally.

The CTA expects up to 46 bus routes will be impacted by intermittent delays and reroutes. The CTA will have extra personnel available to assist customers with the reroutes, but is advising customers to allow extra travel time.

The CTA is also encouraging customers to buy farecards in advance with sufficient value or to add enough value to their existing cards for their return trips.

The Building Owners and Management Association and merchants along the Randolph Street corridor are encouraging businesses along the route to go about their normal course of business, but to anticipate traffic delays, police said.

Residents living along the route should pay attention to signs about parking restrictions, the Traffic Management Authority said.

Police have made it a top priority to allow the demonstrators to safely exercise their First Amendment rights without interfering with the rights and safety of the non-demonstrators. Police will have a full complement of resources deployed, including air patrols to monitor activity on the ground.

Last year, two people were arrested for allegedly leaving graffiti on the route, though police couldn’t say for sure if they were marchers. One person was hospitalized for nausea.
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