BY ANA ACLE

 Hundreds of demonstrators carrying dozens of U.S. flags sang "God Bless America'' and shouted "Justice
 for Elian'' in a downtown rally today meant to support allowing the Cuban boy to remain in the United States.

 Two downtown blocks were shut down for the rally, one of several planned throughout the country, a day before
 a federal appeals court in Atlanta considers Elian's political asylum case.

 White and yellow stenciled posters at the Miami rally carried messages reading "Not even a father has a
 right to condemn a child to slavery,'' "Communism is slavery. Did America forget?''

 Americans to Keep Elian Free, a national ad-hoc organization, has planned demonstrations today
 outside the federal courthouses in 15 major U.S. cities, including Atlanta, where the appellate judges will hear
 oral arguments in the asylum case Thursday.

 "It's a fully grass-roots operation,'' said Audrey Toll, of Broward County, the local organizer for the Miami rally
 organized by Americans, not Cuban exiles. "We want to keep Elian free, but it's really to keep Americans
 free, all of us.''

 The group asked participants to bring American -- not Cuban -- flags because it "confuses the message'' and asks them not to display the American flag upside down.

 "We will fly the American flag, sing the American National Anthem and other great songs of liberty to show our support,'' Toll said. "Like our Founding Fathers, we believe in freedom and will fight oppression.''

 The Miami rally began around 10 a.m. at 99 NE Fourth St., in front of Miami-Dade Community College downtown campus.

 Rallies also were scheduled to be held in Boston, Charlotte, N.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Mo., Louisville, Ky., New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and even Melbourne, Australia.

 Online News Reporter Madeline Baro Diaz and Herald wire services contributed to this report.