In March, an immigration rally that drew 100,000 participants to the Loop had the nation talking about Chicago. That first major mobilization, to protest a House bill that would make illegal immigration a felony, inspired demonstrations in other U.S. cities, including a Chicago march in May that attracted nearly 500,000.
On Wednesday, a third march through the Loop had the country again focused on Chicago. But when only about 10,000 participants showed up, activists nationally worried that the city was a cautionary tale for rally fatigue at a time symbolism matters in the immigration debate.
“Timing is everything,” said Angela Sanbrano, co-organizer of two major marches in L.A. While large demonstrations are tough acts to follow, a low turnout “may send the wrong message that people are tired and that they are losing hope, which is not true.”
Others say Wednesday’s march, which brought together labor unions, religious leaders and elected officials, showed Congress there still is an appetite for a legalization bill. Some advocates note that even a modest march, at a time other U.S. cities are still regrouping from May 1, shows the deep support in Chicago.
For supporters, the march was one more step in a process that began March 10, when a loose collection of activists rallied against the House bill that would ratchet up enforcement.
Wednesday’s march came together less smoothly. The rally point of Grant Park was not finalized until Tuesday, and nearly all the participants were Latino.
The committee that organized the May 1 march largely took a back seat Wednesday to a group spearheaded by Emma Lozano, executive director of the Centro Sin Fronteras and sister of the late Rudy Lozano, an influential Chicago activist in the 1980s.
Despite the smaller turnout, the march was festive. The staging area at Union Park was filled with flag vendors and paleteros hawking ice cream. People made their way on foot, scooters or bicycles.
Steve Montano, 28, said his support wasn’t wavering, even after three marches. He stood with a large American flag until the very end of the speeches at Grant Park. But he lamented that many of his colleagues at a South Side metal factory didn’t attend.
“People are tired,” he said. “They say: ‘I’m not going, because nothing works.’ “
Ricardo Diaz, who helped organize marches in Philadelphia, warned that immigrants could become “demoralized” if they take off work for a march with low turnout.
“I don’t want our people to take a day off work and risk their jobs when it’s not necessary. For what? We’ve already showed there is great people power,” he said.
Organizers on the West and East Coasts are planning large “regional” marches in early September that is expected to attract immigrant groups from several states.
In Chicago, where a similar September march is being discussed, organizers on Wednesday tried to reignite the magic of the city’s first two marches without as much planning.
Rafael Pulido, an influential DJ known as El Pistolero, pleaded on the air for more participants to show the world “we are not cowards.”
Several participants blamed the lower turnout on work responsibilities and the heat.
