Word: chicago
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...usually hectic main thoroughfare in Cicero, Ill., a largely Latino suburb just west of Chicago, was eerily desolate this morning as marchers of all ages prepared for a day of civic action. Although economic boycotts and labor strikes are being officially discouraged by organizers of May 1 immigrant solidarity activities in and around Chicago, nearly all independent retailers in Cicero, among other heavily Hispanic communities, will be closed for the day to allow workers to participate in the day?s political events. Jose Torres, owner of El Meson Mexican restaurant, closed his busy taqueria on Cermak Road - forgoing nearly...
...boycotts and store closures. "No Falte a su Trabajo! No Falte a la Escuela!" ("Don?t Skip Work! Don?t Skip School!") read flyers plastered up and down Cicero's Cermak Road. Rather than advocating work and spending stoppages or classroom boycotts, as is the case in other cities. Chicago protest leaders are taking a more moderate approach. Sending a united message calling for "fair and reasonable" reform, Chicago area leaders are mobilizing voter registration tables, legalization petitions directed at members of Congress and public demonstrations. Two large marches, one from the north, the other from the south, are scheduled...
...Regardless of disagreements over the boycott, there's no question that much of the usual customer base in Cicero and elsewhere will evaporate today, causing local retail spending to take a major hit. Illinois has an estimated 285,000 undocumented workers, nearly the same number of protest participants that Chicago-area organizers are projecting for today. At the city?s March 10 immigrant rally, about 100,000 were estimated to have demonstrated downtown in a far more hastily planned grassroots effort...
...Colleen Gomez, a mother of two, whose ex-husband is Mexican, will be marching with her two hooky-playing daughters ages 14 and 6. "I grew up around Mexicans, and if people are over here and work hard, why shouldn?t they be able to stay?" said Gomez, a Chicago native who described her heritage as German, Irish and Danish. Gomez said the march may be as educational for her half-Mexican children as a day spent in school. She notified their schools of their impending absences, and found no objections. "They?re going to learn a lot by coming...
...Chicago, the catering trucks were starting to pull up alongside the vans hawking flags from just about every Latino country stretching from Mexico south, the mothers with large grocery bags to keep their kids well fed during a long march and a long day, and the dozens of media trucks parked around Union Park on Chicago?s Near West Side. Some had been here all night; some were just rushing to join friends and strangers...