http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readartic ... 087&z=3&p=

LEE COUNTY Florida: Thousands of demonstrators are planning to take a stand in favor of immigration. The stage is being set to make part of Collier County the center of an immigration rally. Officials say the rally could potentially affect businesses for more than just one day.

With signs and simply through word of mouth, Gloria Hernandez, President of Immigrants United for Freedom, is rallying people to demonstrate in favor of immigration reform. She says the time to fight is now and says a demonstration is being planned for May 1st along SR 29.

"We're planning to have a march, but more like a human chain. Our mission is to get into the top. We want legalization for all and that's it," said Hernandez. "I feel angry because after 9/11, everyone is blaming us. Everything that goes wrong in this country is the immigrants."

The human chain means exactly that, people standing side by side holding hands from Downtown Immokalee stretching all the way down to Everglades City some 40 miles away.

But that's not all; Hernandez is also asking anyone who supports her cause not to go to work or school that day.

It's a different take on last year's so-called 'Great March' when 75,000 walked through Fort Myers.

A reform bill was not passed after that one; so many people want to know why another demonstration should be held.

"We still have hope that at the end, we are going to be legalized," said Hernandez.

If it doesn't happen this time, Hernandez and Immigrants United for Freedom have plans for a week-long labor strike.


For the next two weeks, Hernandez says her group will be working with others around the state and with police to make sure everyone is safe at the demonstration.