The "National Day without Immigrants," an economic boycott to demand rights for illegal immigrants, began at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco earlier and caused traffic congestions and street closures along Market Street as protesters made their way to City Hall for a rally.
Many businesses in San Francisco were shuttered to avoid disruption. "We are business people and we are here to support our community. I closed my restaurant today because we want to show everyone that we are one united community and that it's important to understand that we should not be divided on legal and illegal immigrants," said the restaurant owner Juan Gallardo.
"I didn't go to work today, my children did not go to school, and people are not buying and selling things. Even people who can't afford to miss work, are missing work because they know that there is a larger message that needs to be conveyed," said protests supporter Tracy Tulier.
Galvanized by the Senate proposals and measures on illegal immigrants, protesters were shouting and showcasing signs with slogans of: "Apart from native Americans, we are all Immigrants," "Immigrants are not criminals," and "One Day without Immigrants."
"It's one day of solidarity and it aims to impact the society economically," said Tracy Brown-Gallardo, an advocate for immigrant's rights. Ms Brown-Gallardo further explained that she is here to show solidarity not only with her family and relatives who are immigrants but also to be part of this very large movement.
While the previous marches drew mostly Latinos, the march this time assembled a cultural mosaic of different first-countries born. Protesters and supporters carried flags from their native countries coupled together with American flags.
Demonstrations throughout New York
In New York, all over the cities' five boroughs thousands of immigrants and supporters of immigration rights gathered to demand immigration reform during the "Day without Immigrants" on May 1.
In Manhattan's Union Square, about 500 waved banners and flags from their homelands as they chanted, "We want papers! Immigration papers!"
"I think that the most important thing is for a fair decision for both sides, the USA and immigrants," said Reza Salazar, a college student in New York, originally from Argentina. "I'm here for all the immigrants who leave their homes and families for a better future. So I'm here to support them"
Leia Petty, an American citizen advocating immigration rights, said, "I think the whole debate in the Senate is that immigration is a problem, that's their starting point. I don't think immigration is a problem."
400,000 Turn Out in Chicago
A crowd of about 400,000 flooded Chicago on Monday to protest of a new immigration law currently being debated in Congress; the mostly Hispanic crowd was joined by other minorities (including Arabs, Poles, Irish and others) as well as immigrant supporters. Making their way through the downtown area, the crowd gathered at the city's lakefront Grant Park. Some demonstrators held signs that read, "We Are America." Their mission was equality and dignity for undocumented workers threatened with criminalization and deportation under possible legislation.
Monday's rally was inspired by an initial demonstration that saw more than 100,000 descending on Chicago's Federal Plaza on March 10th. Similar demonstrations across the country quickly brought recognition for the issue across the country.
Although their was talk of a national effort to withdraw from work and school to show the nation what a day without immigrants would be like, Chicago protest organizers claim they did not encourage such a boycott.
Monday's march coincided with the anniversary of the Chicago Haymarket Riot of May 1st, 1886, where a protest demanding workers' rights ended in a violent skirmish that left eight officers dead and many others wounded. A memorial sculpture depicting the incident looked out over the protest route. Although Monday saw an unprecedented turnout, Chicago police were pleased to report no arrests or incidents.
Several politicians spoke at the rally, including Illinois Senator Barack Obama, who said, "To those who think we can simply seal off the borders and deport people and who appeal to our worst instincts, I say, 'There is nothing to fear.' People who come here come for the same reasons that generations of people have come here for, because they want a better future for their children."
Additional reporting by Epoch Times Chicago and Boston staff.
 Hundreds assemble outside the Georgia State Capitol. (Mary Silver/The Epoch Times)
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 A man displays a U.S. flag at Atlanta's May 1 Immigrant Rally. (Mary Silver/The Epoch Times)
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 (San Franciscans honor the U.S. and Mexico at the "National Day without Immigrants" Rally. (Ivan Velinov/The Epoch Times)
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 Demonstrators wave the Honduran and American flags as they march in support of immigrants' rights. (Ivan Velinov/The Epoch Times)
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