UIC study: May marchers mostly U.S. citizens

July 18, 2006

BY ESTHER J. CEPEDA Staff Reporter





University of Illinois at Chicago researchers put a face Monday on the more than 400,000 people who hit the streets for May's immigration march: Most participants were male U.S. citizens of Mexican descent -- age 30 or younger -- who spoke English.

That portrait emerged two days before what Latino organizers hope will be another massive display to convince Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

The UIC researchers randomly selected 410 people and quizzed them during the May march from Union Park to Grant Park.








WEDNESDAY'S RALLY
What: Local Hispanic groups are expecting thousands of people to come out to call for a moratorium on raids, immigration-related arrests, deportations and employer sanctions that have led to fear and a perceived backlash in immigrant communities.


When and where: March starts at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Union Park, Ashland & Lake. Marchers will proceed to Federal Plaza, 230 S. Dearborn, where at 1 p.m. political leaders will address the crowd.


Esther J. Cepeda


66 percent say they vote



Nearly 75 percent of those marchers were U.S. citizens, and 66 percent of those citizens said they vote, according to the survey by UIC's Immigrant Mobilization Project. That seems to blunt a perception that it was mostly illegal immigrants participating in the march in a show of force.

Still, more than half the marchers were born outside the U.S., according to the survey. Nearly three-quarters of those immigrants reported being U.S. citizens. Those who said they weren't citizens were not asked further questions about their legal status.

Immigration rights activists attended the press conference announcing the survey's findings to tout their cause.

"This [survey] proves that the people want legalization passed for the 12 million undocumented immigrants that, with or without documents, make this country what it is," said Emma Lozano, spokeswoman for Centro Sin Fronteras, an immigrants' rights group.

The survey's release came in advance of another immigration rally planned for Wednesday. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), a key player in the fight for immigrants' rights, said that march will demand an immediate moratorium on raids, arrests, deportations, employer sanctions and the mixed messages lawmakers are sending immigrants and their families.

"You can't say on the one hand that the system is broken and on the other hand send the repressive forces of immigration and homeland security to deport people," Gutierrez said.

Opposing group to attend event



Wednesday's march is expected to be attended by people of all ethnic backgrounds -- Korean, Irish and Polish to name a few -- during which time the Resurrection Project will launch a campaign "Your Vote, Our Hope," seeking to register 1,000 new voters by fall.

City officials aren't expecting any clashes on Wednesday, despite the Illinois Minuteman Project -- an anti-illegal immigration group --scheduling their own press conference immediately before the event.

The bigger concern is the heat -- and the cost.

Police sources estimate that so far immigration marches have cost the city about $670,000 in staffing and other costs. If the weather further burdens emergency responders the price tag could easily surpass the $335,000 estimated cost.

But march organizers are standing firm. "If we have enough water we should be OK," said Lozano. "All our leaders agree -- we have to march."

Contributing: Annie Sweeney

ecepeda@suntimes.com