Take Back Chicago Rally Brings Thousands Of Protesters To City Streets (PHOTOS)

Frustrated teachers, unemployed college graduates and concerned citizens gathered in downtown Chicago Monday to "Take Back Chicago." The rally, which brought an estimated 6,000 people to Michigan Avenue, was the biggest Occupy Chicago-related event since the group began assembling more than two weeks ago.

Take Back Chicago brought organizations such as Stand Up Chicago, Occupy Chicago, National People's Action, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, the Chicago Teachers Union, the Chicago Federation of Labor, the SEIU, Chicago Jobs With Justice, Action Now, the Illinois Hunger Coalition, Southside Together Organizing For Power, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and the Lakeview Action Coalition together for five separate feeder marches converged into a giant rally. (Scroll down for a Take Back Chicago live blog.)

Organizers said their goal is to "begin taking back the jobs, homes, and schools stolen from us by the greed of big banks and big business." They also hoped to draw attention to the "bad actors" of the financial industry. Housing advocates gathered outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where the Mortgage Banker’s Association 98th Annual Convention and Expo is taking place. The five marches all ended up in front of the Art Institute of Chicago--where the association held a reception Monday night.

The rally comes after Occupy Chicago released a list of demands, calling on the federal government to repeal the Bush tax cuts, investigate and prosecute "Wall Street criminals," overturn the Citizens United vs. U.S. ruling, among other requests.

“When we join our voices with organized labor on Monday, believe me, they’ll hear my demands,” Occupy Chicago's Tom Hawk said in a statement. “It’s time to take back power from the greedy 1%, funding school and job programs for the 99% of Americans left behind by the country’s fiscal policy.”

Take Back Chicago organizers told HuffPost Chicago that 28 people were arrested during Monday's demonstration. The number is small compared with how many people showed up--which SEIU officials predicted was between 5,000 and 7,000. Organizers said that some Chicago Police officers shook the hands of protesters at the end of the rally, and others nodded as the crowd chanted "We are the 99%."

"This is absolutely the most people I've seen out here," 30-year-old Mike Drabak told NBC Chicago. "I think union support has definitely been the turning point."

Check out photos from the rallies here:

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Comments

[cuseme3095]

02:03 PM on 10/18/2011

The right-wingers, through the media, are doing a great job of attacking the protesters, the messengers, and making sure their 'message' gets blocked from the public. Newt Gingrich invented this tactic in the seventies. And it works. Have you read or hear in depth what the protesters are asking for? How much have you heard about campaign finance reform? Neither party wants to talk about it.

[slowhanddean]

01:38 AM on 10/17/2011

What was the latest fiasco Obama engineered?Oh yeah it was another solar company that is filing for bankruptcy.They got 1.2 to 1.5 billion in stimulus(taxpayer) money.They have 15 employees.That breaks down to aproximately 80 million dollars per employee.Nice work if you can get.and people wonder why they want more money for anothe stimulus.I believe it was called Sunpower Incorporated.Huh oh,big corp.

[cybexg]

01:25 PM on 10/19/2011

"Obama engineered­..."

ah....funding and various forms of assistance began under Bush

at least have correct information

[slowhanddean]

02:04 PM on 10/19/2011

Didf I burst your bubble? These were done under Obama's stimulus. Now there is another one about a truck stop thats closed that they just dumped money on without checking it out. These were not part of the tarp under Bush. You need to fact check your own comments first. You have probably never heard of Solyndra. Under Bush they were denied because of thier financial situtaion and under Obama they were fast tracked. You didn't see Bush touting them on national tv did you?

[slowhanddean]

01:18 AM on 10/17/2011

I believe the last sentence said it all.The unions control them and tell them what when where and how to protest.Just a herd of sheeple.

[Marvell Martin]

11:52 PM on 10/15/2011

This I hope truly is the begiining of the END of All them coming up 2012 .. Wow cant believe they constantly vote against helping the people and yet they and the Fat Cats continue to and get fatter .. Enough Clean house of all start fresh !!

[seriouslyfalling]

11:40 PM on 10/15/2011

Obama hasn't been much as president, but he sure is a good community organizer! Even if he does have to keep his part hidden.

[slowhanddean]

01:21 AM on 10/17/2011

He said he supported them and then clammed up about it.Now thats a good thing.I think we should declare an Obama free speech day.You know free from hearing one of his speeches.

[pitciarn]

08:43 PM on 10/14/2011

They seem to have forgotten the City Leadership and the Chicago Public Schools. Why just blame big business,We have elected some of the finest thieves & Conartists around. Isn't the New Mayor a Carpet-Bagger from BHO's camp ???

[mikdfour]

11:06 AM on 10/14/2011

Just another union rally. Why don't the OWS people look into the corruption of unions who pay off the top 1% with ridiculous pensions and compensation? That directly hurts teachers and police more than Wall Street ever did.

[karmarind]

01:02 PM on 10/18/2011

Exactly. I would love to see someone publish the head of unions salaries AND PERKS, so the union members can REALLY see whats up.

[marklincoln8]

04:45 PM on 10/13/2011

God, I love this country! Most of all the grass roots that finally set thier feet down and say "enough is enough". It use to only take an election to up right things but this time it has went way too far. These protesters are not out of hand, it's the government that has got out of hand.

[royisking]

12:11 PM on 10/12/2011

I am all for the people who give there time to protest and I would be one as well my disablity holds me back (quadriplegic). I do follow and believe there doing the right thing.What I strongly believe is to get rid of party no reppublicans or democrats. All people should register as an independent yes I know it is also a party but one that can pull country threw get rid of PARTIES register independent and we will have independence.

[IamChicago]

12:52 PM on 10/12/2011

Fanned you.

out of stinkin badges.... so hopefully I get more to hand out!!!

Good luck your first fan

[slowhanddean]

01:25 AM on 10/17/2011

You do know that independent is a party right?

[xhawk2]

08:10 AM on 10/12/2011

I wonder how many of these people will be rallying for the "peace activist" who punched the cop.

[RageVsMachine]

09:51 AM on 10/12/2011

that guy was from Alabama. No one from Chicago is surprised by his actions.

[slowhanddean]

01:27 AM on 10/17/2011

So you diss a whole state for it.Typical Chicagoan.

[chocolateandcheese]

02:16 AM on 10/12/2011

I had the flu! AARGH!

[RageVsMachine]

09:51 AM on 10/12/2011

you should have scheduled a meeting with a CEO and gotten him the flu too.

[IamChicago]

12:52 PM on 10/12/2011

LOL!!!

[slowhanddean]

01:28 AM on 10/17/2011

Gotten? I hate the spelling police,but gotten?LOL

[MMRDO]

11:59 PM on 10/11/2011

This seems to be much more organized and chaotic than the OWS group.I disagree with them both, but still, this is how you should protest, not blocking the bridges and roads.

[Bude]

06:50 PM on 10/11/2011

I think I'll borrow some Obama signs from the tea party and join up.

[RageVsMachine]

09:52 AM on 10/12/2011

Go for it. Everyone's pissed off and Obama and the Party of No controlling the house aren't doing much to help.

[suzee q]

03:30 PM on 10/11/2011

I wonder why no one is converging on the State Capitol to get IL's broken and dysfunctional Government fixed? If there was ever a need for change in Illinois politics and ridding itself of the Chicago Machine, now is the time to demand action.

[IamChicago]

12:54 PM on 10/12/2011

Does it matter, there is no one in Springfield.

And the republicans are just as bad as the democrats - all of them are bought and sold to the highest bidder....

[suzee q]

01:51 PM on 10/12/2011

Yes it does matter. Alot. I am tired of being under represented and then blamed by the media for complacency as well as being laughed at as a state when a corrupt politician gets busted. I'm also tired of the games that Quinn seems to be playing in regard to paying the state's bills. It's time that things change for the better and for the people. Out with the old and in with the new.

[Kenz300]

01:49 PM on 10/11/2011

Republicans keep called the occupy protesters a mob.

It looks like American democracy to me.

I guess Republicans do not like the message of economic justice for all.

[xhawk2]

08:11 AM on 10/12/2011

Democrats don't like the idea of civility. Ironic since that's all they were bitching about earlier this year. Of course, we know Democrats like you hate cops. You'll rally for that "peace activist."

How ironic that Democrats attack the police, yet accept their presence at pro-Mumia rallies.

[RageVsMachine]

09:53 AM on 10/12/2011

Cops abuse their power on a regular basis. Politicians abuse their power on a regular basis. Neither should ever be trusted.

[seriouslyfalling]

11:37 PM on 10/15/2011

If the TEA party folks are terrorists according to the Democrats, then yes, this bunch is definitely a mob! Police were not even needed at TEA party events where 500.000 attended, yet they were called terrorists. This mob has 28 people arrested when only 5-6,000 were attending and the media praises their peacefulness? Insanity!