MADISON, Wis. -- Almost 1,000 people gathered at the state Capitol and marched to a downtown Madison park on Monday as part of a nationwide effort to rally support for immigrants' rights.

READ: Legal Immigrant Opposes Relaxing Immigration Laws | VIDEO: Watch The Report | SLIDESHOW: See Photos Of Today's March

Monday's demonstration by immigrant workers and their supporters returned to the Capitol for the second time in three weeks. It caused several Madison stores to close and prompted many participants to miss work or class.

The protest is called "A Day Without Immigrants," and organizers called on immigrants to boycott work, school and shopping to show how much undocumented workers matter to their communities.

Their aim is to demonstrate unity within the immigrant community and demonstrate their political and economic strength. March organizers are calling for comprehensive immigration reform, which includes a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Police estimated that there were 1,000 people on hand at the event's peak, which is about one-tenth the crowd size of three weeks ago.

Despite the smaller group, supporters said that the message is what really counts.

Demonstrators flocked to the Capitol at about noon, many from Madison's Hispanic community.

Many were waving U.S. flags while others carried signs and banners. Some called for an end to state and national legislation that they said would criminalize immigrant workers. Others called for an end to immigration barriers.

Amy Kucin, a member of the April 10th Organization that helped coordinate Monday's rally as well as the previous one, said that recent rumors of federal raids against illegal immigrants might have deterred some from attending the rally and march.

"I think there is more than we expected given the weather," Kucin said. "You know, the rumors of the immigration raids that happened last week, a lot of people missed jobs, and it triggered a lot of fear in the community."

Jose Gonzalez, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said that he took off school to attend the rally.

"I'm the son of immigrants," Gonzalez said. "And all my family is from a different country, but I'm an American and I think this country was built by immigrants."

Demonstrator Oscar Prez said that he couldn't get off work for the April 10th rally, but he brought his children to Monday's march.

"I support all the people because most of the people are workers, not terrorists," he said.

Prez said that he was pleased to see more U.S. than Mexican flags.

A large portion of Latino students were absent from classes in Madison, WISC-TV reported. An estimated 55 percent of Latino students at both Sennett Middle and Leopold Elementary schools were out while 67 percent stayed away from Cherokee Middle School.

Students can receive an excused absence for political rallies as long as parents provide a written excuse before their absence, WISC-TV reported.

After the rally at the Capitol, the crowd headed to Brittingham Park -- where the preceding march began -- for a picnic and group discussion.

Beyond just the demonstration, however, many said that they flexed their economic muscle by joining the nationwide economic boycott, which began last weekend thorough Monday. At least 11 local businesses were closed for the day in support of the boycott, WISC-TV reported.

Organizers said that this rally didn't short change businesses, adding that they got greater cooperation from a lot of employers than previously, WISC-TV reported.

Gonzalez said that he participated in the economic boycott as well.

"I haven't bought anything since last Friday," he said. It's been kind of hard, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make."

Demonstrators in Madison joined others around the state and the country on Monday.

An estimated 300,000 people marched through Chicago's Loop, WISC-TV reported.

In Milwaukee, thousands of participants marched from the city's near southside -- a heavily Hispanic area -- to Veterans Park along the lakefront. Some in the crowd shouted "USA" and others chanted "si se puede," which means "yes, we can" in Spanish.

Demonstrator Lupe Flores wrapped herself in an American flag and held a cross. Flores was born in Texas, but married a Latino. She said that American society is much better off because of the immigrants because they do the work other people won't do. One banner in the crowd read "Open the doors to citizenship."

In Green Bay, dozens of Hispanic-owned restaurants and businesses said that they planned to close in solidarity with demonstrations.

In Stevens Point, however, the Latino rights march set in that community was cancelled. Organizers said that people feared illegal immigrants taking part would be arrested, although officials have denied any such action was planned.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.