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Updated 9 hours ago

Participants in the “Day Without Immigrants” march took to the streets in Pittsburgh's Beechview neighborhood on Thursday to denounce President Trump's recent crackdown on immigration.

The Pittsburgh march was one of many taking place nationwide. Marchers walked down Broadway Avenue to the World War I Soldiers Memorial in Beechview, carrying signs and chanting in English and Spanish.

On their way, they passed the Las Palmas grocery store, which was closed for the day in a move mirrored around the country.

Immigrants across the country stayed home from work, closed their businesses for the day, kept their children home from school and avoided stores thought to exploit immigrant workers in an effort to highlight the contributions immigrants make to their communities.

“We not only make a difference in Pittsburgh but to the general economic health of the country,” said Christina Castillo, an Oakland resident. “We are trying to send a message to (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the new administration to show them that despite how they don't want us here, we matter and we contribute and we are essential to the communities' survival and the country's survival.”

Andrew Russell is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at arussell@tribweb.com.

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