Groups Call for ‘A Day Without an Immigrant’
Eastern Group Publications, News Report, Selene Rivera, Posted: Apr 14, 2006
LOS ANGELES -- Activists with the March 25th Coalition, organizers of the massive immigration rights protest which took place in Los Angeles two weeks ago, are now calling for an economic boycott to take place next month.
Organizers are asking the public to stay home from work, keep their kids out of school and to refrain from shopping or purchasing anything on May 1st - International Workers' Day.
“It will be a day without immigrants,” said Javier Rodriguez, one of the main organizers of both the protest rally and the proposed boycott.
“The arguments against [the immigrant community] claim we abuse the economy of this country… And if this is in fact the case, then that day we will see a resurgence of the economy,” said Rodriguez.
This “Great American Boycott 2006,” as it has been named by organizers, is designed to put pressure on Congress to respond favorably to the just immigration laws currently being debated, and to demonstrate the economic strength of the immigrant community.
Organizers of the May 1st economic stoppage, say the boycott will demonstrate the profound positive impact immigrants have on the U.S. economy.
And that is why “people are ready for the boycott… to use their power as consumers and to send a message to the Senate and the Minutemen, and whatever other anti-immigrant group, that we will no longer tolerate their attacks,' said Jesse Diaz, another of the main organizers of the March 25th march and the protest movement being waged in Southern California against the measure authored by Rep. James Sensenbrenner, H.R. 4437.
Diaz said activists in Washington D.C., Louisiana, Georgia and other parts of the country are united behind the boycott and will be asking the public to support the cause and to protest in front of the offices of legislators and businesses supporting punitive legislation.
Juan Jose Gutierrez, director of Latino Movement USA (in English) said the boycott is not limited to just Latinos in the U.S., but also those in other countries.
Gutierrez called on people living on other countries to not buy American products and to not cross the U.S.- Mexico border on May 1st to make purchases.
The boycott coalition, which also includes Hermandad Mexicana, CHIRLA, Amigos de [Friends of] Orange, and MECHA, among others, broadcast the boycott during the nation wide demonstrations that took place on April 10.
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Complete Coverage of Immigrants Rights Movement
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User Comments
Nigel on May 01, 2006 at 02:58:02 said:
Why are they calling it a \"day without an immigrant\"? I myself am an immigrant, but was NEVER and ILLEGAL immigrant! They should really call it a \"day without an ILLEGAL immigrant\". This whole debate is really about illegal immigrants and people seem to forget that there are thousands and thousands of perfectly legal immigrants (working visas, etc.) that would like to stay in this country, but guess what - no parole for them - if you\'ve never broken any laws - no reward for you.
Isn\'t this ironic.
M. H. I. on Apr 30, 2006 at 21:51:43 said:
To all the people who are saying things about 'real' American (white European types). You're all immigrants, or descended from immigrants. The pilgrims, the famous first people to reach central America, were immigrants, and a lot less polite than the people you're condemning, considering that they killed the inhabitants of the place they were moving to. So, before you say stuff about people who are coming to this country to start a new life, like your ancestors, take a moment to think.
David McCarthy on Apr 29, 2006 at 11:53:16 said:
From where does Lakshmi think Mexicans came?
They are Spanish-Americans.
Spain conqured and opressed the indigenous indians. In fact the Mexican government has it's army in the state of Chiapas to opresses the native indians right now.
The Mexican government has it's army on it's southern border. If they don't shoot border crossers they arrest and deport them. They don't give them jobs, free medical care or a free education.
This whole protest is a great hypocrisy. Mexicans flee an opressive sewer that is Mexico and then complain about how they are treated here. In Mexico you can not protest against the Mexican government: you go to jail. But wouldn't it be interesting to see on May 1st the Mexicans protest against the Mexican government for it's grand failure as a government and for abandoning their people like bastard children?
Perhaps what we need to do in the United States is enforce Mexicos immigration policies here.
Ram K Singh on Apr 28, 2006 at 23:51:22 said:
Let us see if I can answer your questions Lakshmi. First of all, we are not talking about immigrants, we are talking about ILLEGAL invaders in this land. Immigrants continue to come and settle in USA legally, every day, every month, 12 month of a year and they are welcome addition to the population of USA..
Second, legal immigrants are not oppressed as you might believe, ILLEGAL entrants are highly desired by businesses so they can exploit their Illegal STATUS and pay them depressed wages. Such employers of ILLEGAL do not pay unemployment insurance, health insurance, workmen compensation insurance, no accidental death, dismemberment insurance for their ILLEGAL employees.
I am baffled by your assumption that Canadians, Mexicans, Central and South Americans are Americans but United Sates Citizen are not. Names of the countries were assumed by the early settlers on these land and people settling on the land became citizens of that country. Early Europeans assumed name United States of America for this country founded and citizens of USA became Americans. No one else claimed to be Americans.
People of African origins have been working to settle on a name and at this time they want to be called African Americans. During the time of Martin Luther King Jr, they preferred to be called Negro as you might hear that name in Martin Luther King’s speeches.
You say May 1 would be a success. That depends upon how you define success. USA has been changing constantly and few ever resist that change. Challenge at this time comes from the fact that people who entered this land without proper authorization of the government of USA, want to jump ahead of all those people of the world who are waiting in line to immigrate to USA. To allow this process, would be unfair to all those law abiding decent people form all over the world who have been waiting in the line patiently.
Cynthia Singh on Apr 28, 2006 at 05:38:30 said:
On May 1st I am going to shop at sears, on old
American business. I am going to buy an eureka vacuum cleaner, made and manufactured in the U.S.A. Then I am going to demonstrate for my nation, flag and way of life.
I hope this boycott continues for a month. We
will find the United States will not fall apart
because immigrants are not working or shopping. I
will enjoy hearing only English spoken.
Does this mean they will be boycotting our emergency rooms and food stamps too?
Lakshmi on Apr 27, 2006 at 10:04:08 said:
I think it is great. If immigrants are really a burden to this country then on May 1st they will disappear and the economy should really boost.
It is obvious it is not going to happen. USA does want immigrants but they just want them more oppressed so they can make more profit out of them. I also want to remind everyone that the only true illegal aliens in this continent are the Europeans (I am not trying to offend anyone). Now why in the world do they call themselves Americans? An American is someone from Canada, USA, Mexico, Central American, South American. Now don't you think that if black people are called Afro-Americans shouldn't White people be called Euro-Americans? I feel May 1st will be a success. It is time to stop racism and for whites to understand that the face of USA has changed and if you don't like it go back to Europe.
Rik on Apr 21, 2006 at 04:08:07 said:
It is a pretty interesting twisting of the facts to read that protecting the borders of the United States (HR 4437) is anti-immigrant.
Immigrants who follow the legal process to become citizens have always been welcome to this country. Illegal aliens who are not willing to follow the laws of our land, should not be allowed to stay in the United States.
Michelle Ortiz on Apr 20, 2006 at 13:46:32 said:
My family and I want to participate in this boycott. But we need those letters that give us permission to stay home from school and work so we wont get into any trouble. Please get back to us with any information we you can give us. Thank You.
-->-Michelle Ortiz