[media-credit name=’SUNDEEP MALLADI/Herald Photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]An estimated 3,000 protesters marched up State Street to the Capitol Monday to rally against newly proposed anti-immigration legislation.

The May Day Rally for Immigrant Rights protested Senate Bill 567 and House Resolution 4437, measures that would respectively criminalize illegal immigration and deny state-funded health care to non-citizens.

Representatives from various Madison-area organizations rallied at the morning and afternoon event, including the Teaching Assistants' Association, University of Wisconsin Employees Union and the April 10th Organization.

Despite rather gloomy May weather, the skies didn't seem to dampen the spirits of the protesters. They marched to drums, waved flags and carried signs with phrases such as "Where did your ancestors come from?" and "Deport Sensenbrenner."

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., proposed HR 4437, legislation that could potentially make it a felony to reside in the United States illegally. Additionally, it could make anyone who helps an undocumented immigrant a criminal.

Here in Wisconsin, similar anti-immigration measures like SB 567 could deny state-funded health care to non-citizens if passed by the Legislature.

"It's pretty ridiculous that any infant would be considered a felon," said Jamie Wichman, coordinator of the education committee for the April 10th Organization. The group planned the "A Day Without Latinos" rally that took place earlier last month and drew thousands. The April 10th Organization, an unofficial group of people from within the Madison community, aims to empower and unite the Latino community, Wichman said.

As part of the Monday event at the Capitol, several pro-immigration reform speakers addressed the crowd during the two-hour rally, shouting into microphones over resounding chants of "Si, se puede" or "Yes, I can."

Jim Cavanaugh, president of the South Central Federation of Labor, spoke to the crowd to express his support of immigrant rights.

"We formed a task force … and studied issues of what's going on with Latino workers in this area," Cavanaugh said. "We found much discrimination and exploitation of these workers."

While hundreds of activists did show up to protest anti-immigration policy, the turnout was not as high as for the April 10th rally.

Wichman said the weather was not a significant factor in the smaller turnout. This past weekend, a rumor began to spread that Immigration and Naturalization Services was going to be in Madison.

Many activists had already taken a day off both for the April rally and for last week's INS scare, as it was rumored that agents would be coming to workplaces and arresting illegal immigrants.

"It's not that they are afraid," Wichman said.

While Latino groups were the most visible of the rally-goers, they were not alone in their protests. The Wisconsin Organization for Asian Americans was also present to show its support for Madison's Latino community.

"The first undocumented immigrants came on the Mayflower," a spokesperson for the organization said. "Do we start with the Pilgrims? What about Sensenbrenner and his ancestors?"

Though rally protesters were minimal, several people did show up to express their support for the proposed anti-immigration policy.

One such protester, who wished to remain anonymous, held a sign reading, "Enforce the law — deport all illegals."

"I'm praying to God that [HR 4437] passes," he said. "To me, they should be arresting these people and going after all the employers."