May Day protestors in Chinatown (Rachel Scott/Neon Tommy)

More than 1,000 people rallied in Los Angeles' Chinatown on Thursday for International Workers Day, popularly known as May Day. Hundreds of immigration reform advocates demanded wholesale changes to immigration laws, yelling slogans and human rights chants. The demonstrators poured through the streets of downtown Los Angeles carrying colorful signs and beating drums.

READ MORE: May Day March Pushes For Workers' Rights, Fair Wages For L.A.'s Undocumented

The march was given the theme “Keeping families together,” with the goal of preventing families from being split apart. Among those marching were hundreds  affected by deportation, including a woman who asked only to be identified as Maria.

“My family has been affected by deportation, we’ve been divided and split because this country can’t pass laws to stop tearing apart families,” Maria said.

“For us, it’s about human rights. We are all humans. I don’t want anyone to experience anything I have but there are so many out here that have,” she continued, clutching onto a sign that read "Stop Deportations."

Immigration reform advocates organized three marches throughout the day, spanning from Chinatown to downtown Los Angeles. “Immigrants are the base of our country. We are fighting to give them what they deserve. Immigrants reform needs to happen now, we can’t wait any longer,” said Jacqueline Mejia, one of the march organizers.

Mejia works with CHIRLA, the Coalition For Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. Mejia said she hopes the march sends a strong message to our local, state and national government. “We are all human beings and we all deserve civil rights,” Mejia added.

Others shared the opinion, calling upon President Obama to open the border and grant a pathway to citizenship for immigrants. “The border should be open, workers should all have the rights and the border only pushes us against each other,” Steve Hoffman said as he marched alongside protestors.

“It’s not just an issue for one race. All different races have come here today to fight for the basic human rights that we all deserve,” he said. “We have to stick together, that’s the only way we can win.”

Los Angeles resident Marcus Smith agreed. He traveled from San Francisco to support his girlfriend, whose parents immigrated to the United States. “I’ve heard too many stories of immigrants being treated unfairly. It affects us all. I’m not an immigrant, but I’m here to stand for human rights.”

Several streets were shut down due to protests. May 1 is typically known as a day of protest for the labor movement. Over the years, it has transformed into a day for immigrant rights groups to come together to fight injustice.

Reach Staff Reporter Rachel Scott here. Follow her on Twitter here.