Citizens from across the state of Michigan will meet at the Capitol building at 2 p.m. on Saturday to march for the American dream.

"The rally is to impress upon our elected officials to stop the outsourcing of American jobs, the need for universal health care, a secure life for our senior citizens and a better future for our children and grandchildren," said organizer Art Reyes, of Flint. "I'm looking forward to the people of Michigan finally standing up and speaking with a voice to say that our rights need to be protected."

Gov. Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., will speak at the event.

Reyes said between 2,500 and 5,000 people are expected to attend the march, including United Auto Workers and the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations.

The grassroots effort to maintain a secure retirement and universal health care started when Delphi Corp., the company where Reyes works, tried to reduce wages and stop pensions, Reyes said. A group of Delphi workers started picketing in front of the company in October and gained support from area business owners and the United Way, Reyes said.

"The more we started talking about it, we realized we had hit a vein everywhere across the state," Reyes said. "Plants and businesses are closing in Jackson, Detroit, Grand Rapids and Saginaw."

Gov. Granholm is expected to speak about living the American dream.

"The American dream is living that middle class life that so many people have come to expect and treasure," said Liz Boyd, Granholm's spokeswoman. "The American dream is being able to afford gasoline for your car, have health care, being able to have a secure retirement and living without fear of your job being sent overseas because of globalization."