Posted on 05/09/2005 11:53:57 AM PDT by Pikamax
Boycott planned to protest proposed state immigration laws
PHOENIX -- Organizers of an economic boycott are urging Hispanics to stay home from work and not spend money on Tuesday as a way to protest laws aimed at making life in Arizona more difficult for illegal immigrants.
The boycott is the latest in a string of grass-roots protests since November's passage of Proposition 200, a ballot measure intended to ensure illegal migrants don't vote or receive certain public benefits.
"We're trying to prove we are a vital part of the community, that our workers and our consumers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect," said organizer Elias Bermudez, executive director of Centro de Ayuda (Center of Help), a business that helps immigrants prepare immigration and tax documents.
However, many Hispanics say they weren't aware of the boycott, despite heavy publicity in local Spanish-language newspapers and radio. Others say they are sympathetic to the cause but can't afford to lose a day of work or are afraid of getting fired.
"What these leaders don't understand is that we can't leave our jobs," said Garcia, 33, a Mexican immigrant who installs drywall. "We have a responsibility to get the work done.
Dozens of measures are pending in the state Legislature, including one to restrict the use of Mexican ID cards and another to require immigrant students to pay out-of-state college tuition.
The Hispanic workforce drives Arizona's construction, restaurant and hotel industries, though the numbers are unclear, said Harry Garewal, president and chief executive officer of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He estimated the state could lose at least $54 million if all Hispanics closed their wallets and purses for a day.
State Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, who is a sponsor of many of the bills, says undocumented immigrants cost Arizona more than they contribute. The boycott will only breed contempt in a state already divided over illegal immigration, he said.
"(Mexico) needs to fix their country and not allow (President) Vicente Fox to export his problems to the United States," Pearce said. "No longer can we be the dumping ground for Mexico."
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American second:
Hispanic-American, Black-American, etc.
American second:
Hispanic-American, Black-American, etc.
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
Don't buy Tortillas! We'll show'em!!
One thing I've noticed about the average liberal: they're narcissists. And narcissists are unable to empathize on any real level; for them, any "empathy" that they display for the downtrodden is largely a matter of political posturing - a way to go with the herd, to "be cool". They have no problem paying illegals substandard wages and working them to their advantage - I could give you three ugly examples just from my neighbors and ex-friends (like the hyper-liberal wife of a good friend who crowed over the fact that she only pays "Juan Renteria and his crew" $20/Mo for yard maintenance. When I said, uh, those are illegals he's using, she got defensive and used the usual dodge:"well, I can't tell him how to run his business").
Are they racist? I don't know...I doubt if they invite Los Inmigrantes over for dinner. But they clearly have no interest in their well being, and seem to exploit people just as avidly as the mean old Right Wingers supposedly do.
For the record, we pay rather higher rates, and I demand no illegals from contractors. Interestingly, I get a much better group of people doing the work, who can ad lib and have real skills doing what they do.
Ya gits whats ya pay fer.
Yep! Caught him doing that on the 10:00PM TV News last night.
True. It should not be "more difficult" for illegal aliens to live in Arizona, it should be impossible. If this were a case of a few illegal aliens sneaking across the border it would not be a problem.
Instead, it is a crisis. Illegal aliens by the millions are coming into the U.S every year. No one even knows how many but most experts put it into the millions.
When a government can no longer control its border then that country no longer has sovereignty.
In his inaugral address President Bush said "we are standing watch on every border." Yeah, every border but our own.
Every great civilization disapeared under an overwhelming mass of primitives who invaded the land to seize its treasures.
Down through history mass migrations had one thing in common; they multiplied at a faster rate than the people of the country they invaded.
We are seeing the same thing. Six go into a Wal-Mart and eight come out.
Its gotta' stop.
That's the ticket. ;)
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