Demonstrating for comprehensive immigration reform and "respect and justice for all workers," thousands gathered today at Chicago's Union Park in celebration of International Worker's Day. On what turned out to be a beautiful afternoon, May Day participants marched downtown peacefully, waving flags and beating drums as they cried out for the humane treatment of immigrants.

The Change to Win unions were well represented, including workers from SEIU, UNITE-HERE, the Teamsters, and UFCW. Young people made up a huge chunk of the crowd and were often times the most enthusiastic, continually leading chants of "Education, Not Deportation!" and "Si Se Puede!" Alderman Toni Foulkes (15th Ward), herself a veteran union steward, riled up the crowd before their journey as well.

It was clear that this generation of immigrants, like those that built the skyscrapers towering over their heads today, just want to be acknowledged and compensated fairly for their contributions to American life.

More pictures after the jump.

Top image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user swanksalot. Other images by Adam Doster.