Thousands of demonstrators gathered in U.S. cities Thursday to protest federal immigration raids and deportations and to call for comprehensive immigration reform.
In Chicago, Illinois, 3,000 to 4,500 people marched in the city's downtown, police said. Several people carried a large American flag; others held banners or signs.
The early estimate of participants paled greatly in comparison to protests in Chicago in past years: In 2007, numbers reached about 150,000, and the year before, estimates ranged from 400,000 to 700,000.
In New York, hundreds of sign-carrying protesters gathered in Union Square, preparing for a march toward Foley Square in downtown Manhattan.
"We are demanding that the raids and deportations stop," said Teresa Gutierrez, one of the organizers for the New York rallies.
"We are for the rights of all immigrants, whether they're documented or not," she said.
New York protesters are also marching in support of workers' rights, she said.
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