NEW YORK, NY May 02, 2007 —Immigrants and their supporters staged rallies around the city on May Day to demand equal rights and legalization. But turnout was low, compared to last year's massive demonstrations. WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports.

A rally in Washington Square only filled up a small section of the park. Those who were there held signs that read "Stop Tearing Families Apart" and Equal Rights for all Workers." Several speakers denounced federal immigration raids and families took turns reading the names of loved ones who were either deported or otherwise separated from them.

A few blocks away at Union Square, less than half the park was filled with demonstrators. Marco Aliendo and Juan Juarez are restaurant workers from Mexico. They said some people were scared there would be raids, others were worried they would be fired if they took the day off. Some organizers said a House bill that would have criminalized illegal immigrants was the driving force behind last year's massive protests.

For WNYC, I'm Cindy Rodriguez.