This year's National Coming Out of the Shadows Day in Chicago, held March 10 in Daley Plaza, drew large crowds and a heavy police presence. The event, during which youth come out as having an undocumented immigration status, is the third rally to be held in Chicago since 2010. The rally typically draws many queer activists.
More than 300 supporters attended the afternoon rally and music performance. Approximately half a dozen young people "came out" to the crowd as undocumented and told their stories.
"All my life, I had been told to hide my status and feel ashamed of myself," said one young man, who has his sights set on a medical degree.
One veteran, who identified himself as "David," said that his time serving in Afghanistan was marked by fear that his undocumented wife would be deported.
"What else do we have to go through to prove that we're worthy of a normal life?" he asked.
Youth spoke of their fear of being pulled over while driving, of being unable to home countries to see dying family members and of living of fear of being separated from their families in U.S., despite the fact that many have lived in country since a very young age.
The crowd chanted "undocumented, unafraid" while several police cars circled the plaza during the two-hour event, but the rally concluded without incident.
Performances were given by Northside College Preparatory High School's poongmul troop (a Korean folk drumming, dancing and signing group), as well as local spoken-word artist John Vietnam.
