Twelve Arrested On Michigan Avenue During Immigration Protest

By aaroncynic in News on May 29, 2013 4:00PM



Photo by Daney Villa

Twelve demonstrators were arrested this morning for blocking traffic on Michigan Avenue in front of the Chicago Hilton Hotel and Towers after locking themselves to each other to protest deportations of undocumented immigrants. Sitting in a circle around a banner reading “Not 1 More Deportation,” the activists used piping to lock their arms together. President Barack Obama is expected to speak at the Hilton later today.

“The President can’t be a bystander in reform when he could stop our suffering and stop deportations with the stroke of a pen,” said Stephanie Camba, one of the undocumented protesters in a press release put out by the Immigrant Youth Justice League. Ireri Unzueta Carrasco, another demonstrator, said, "It doesn’t make sense to keep deporting people that could qualify for immigration reform. We want our families to still be here when a path to citizenship opens.”

Several groups plan to converge on the Hilton later today at 4:30 p.m. where the President will be speak at a fundraiser for Congressional Democrats beginning at 5 p.m.