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Hundreds March To Trump Tower Calling For Workers, Immigrant Rights On Mayday

By aaroncynic in News on May 1, 2016 5:40PM

2014_5_2MayDay1PrettyView.jpg.jpg Photo representing a past May rally in Chicago by Aaron Cynic/Chicagoist

Hundreds marched Chicago Sunday afternoon to commemorate May Day and call for immigrant and workers rights. Immigrant rights activists, unions and others have traditionally held large demonstrations on May 1 to commemorate the hundreds of thousands of workers that went on strike nationwide in 1886 to demand an eight-hour workday. Just days later on May 4, eight people were killed and dozens were wounded when a bomb was thrown into police ranks. Despite a lack of evidence, eight anarchists were tried and found guilty in what amounted to a kangaroo court. Several were later pardoned.

This year’s march is beginning in Union Park and ultimately will end up at Trump Tower in the Loop. Similar marches are planned to take place across the country, many of which are targeting the anti-immigrant carnival barker who is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for presidential candidate.

"The Trump effect has taken over the media and silenced our voices," Tomas Kennedy, an organizer of a march in Miami told the Tribune. “It's time to stand up against the current threat to democracy, freedom, human rights, equality, and the welfare of our country and all our people."

Groups danced, chanted and sang their way from Union Park to Trump Tower. In addition to several labor unions and other activist groups, a few prominent political figures joined the demonstration, including alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and Cook County Commissioner Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia.

While demonstrators were not allowed near Trump Tower by police, some participating clergy held an exorcism of an effigy of the man in the building's shadow on Wacker Drive.