Posted on 04/27/2006 4:15:47 PM PDT by lauriehelds
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pro-immigration activists say a national boycott and marches planned for May 1 will flood U.S. streets with millions of Latinos to demand amnesty for illegal immigrants and shake the ground under Congress as it debates reform.
Such a massive turnout could make for the largest protests since the civil rights era of the 1960s, though not all Latinos -- nor their leaders -- were comfortable with such militancy, fearing a backlash in Middle America.
"There will be 2 to 3 million people hitting the streets in Los Angeles alone. We're going to close down Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Tucson, Phoenix, Fresno," said Jorge Rodriguez, a union official who helped organize earlier rallies credited with rattling Congress as it debates the issue.
Immigration has split Congress, the Republican Party and public opinion. Conservatives want the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants classified as felons and a fence built along the Mexican border.
Others, including President George W. Bush, want a guest-worker program and a path to citizenship. Most agree some reform is needed to stem the flow of poor to the world's biggest economy.
"We want full amnesty, full legalization for anybody who is here (illegally)," Rodriguez said. "That is the message that is going to be played out across the country on May 1."
Organizers have timed the action for May Day, a date when workers around the world traditionally have marched for improved conditions, and have strong support from big labor and the Roman Catholic church.
They vow that America's major cities will grind to a halt and its economy will stagger as Latinos walk off their jobs and skip school.
Teachers' unions in major cities have said children should not be punished for walking out of class. Los Angeles school officials said principals had been told that they should allow students to leave but walk with them to help keep order.
In Chicago, Catholic priests have helped organize protests, sending information to all 375 parishes in the archdiocese.
CRITICS CHARGE INTIMIDATION
Chicago activists predict that the demonstrations will draw 300,000 people.
In New York, leaders of the May 1 Coalition said a growing number of businesses had pledged to close and allow their workers to attend a rally in Manhattan's Union Square.
Large U.S. meat processors, including Cargill Inc., Tyson Foods Inc and Seaboard Corp said they will close plants due to the planned rallies.
Critics accuse pro-immigrant leaders of bullying Congress and stirring up uninformed young Latinos by telling them that their parents were in imminent danger of being deported.
"It's intimidation when a million people march down main streets in our major cities under the Mexican flag," said Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman volunteer border patrol group. "This will backfire," he said.
Some Latinos have also expressed concerns that the boycott and marches could stir up anti-immigrant sentiment.
Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Los Angeles archdiocese, an outspoken champion of immigrant rights, has lobbied against a walkout. "Go to work, go to school, and then join thousands of us at a major rally afterword," Mahony said.
And Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who has long fought for immigrant rights, has said he expects protesters to be "lawful and respectful" and children to stay in school.
In Washington on Thursday, immigrant-rights activists brushed off talk of a backlash.
"This is going to be really big. We're going to have millions of people," said Juan Jose Gutierrez, director of the Latino Movement USA. "We are not concerned at all. We believe it's possible for Congress to get the message that the time to act is now."
(Additional reporting by Aarthi Sivaraman in Los Angeles, Dan Trotta in New York and Michael Conlon in Chicago)
Kiss The Cause goodbye.
Is it possible for Congress to ever get the message........that most Americans are going to be appalled on the 1st that their country is being invaded?
ML/NJ
When your opponent goes into "self-destruct" mode, step back and let it happen.
Isnt' that the same as admitting to Insurrection?
Its insane to be concerned about illegal immigration....those that are need to get a life.....sheeesh.../sarcasm
May 1?
Why not the 5th?
Yeah, go ahead and close down Phoenix. You will get lots more gringos on your side if you do that. We will be sure to come out and march with you.
(tee hee)
I'll be out Monday patronizing local establishments, rewarding them with my dollars for staying open through intimidation and media hype. They will learn they don't need the illegals to make money.
If the schools allow this to happen, they need to be sued. They would also need to lose all their taxpayer supported funding.
Maybe they were using the Mayan Calendar?
Well, perhaps it's because they don't even celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Mexico, except one little region. It's a trumped up holiday to flaunt in the face of gringos del norte.
May 1 is May day. Read up about it. It has its history in communism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day
Makes sense to me.
Makes sense to me.
"........that most Americans are going to be appalled on the 1st that their country is being invaded?"
The only show that I make time to watch is "Invasion" - alien hybrids that will force out humans due to "evolution". Last night's episode had the 2nd grade teacher (a hybrid) teaching the kids about evolution and that it was normal and correct.
It was the first time I saw a statement in the show rather than just entertainment. (Perhaps the whole show has been a "statement" and I just like the entertainment!?)
Anyway - it's interesting to think of all the things that are now "evolving" into normal: homosexuality, unwed mothers, sex, gang mentality, illegal ALIENS, mixed cultures, etc. And it is all being looked at as diversity, culture, postive change, etc.
By the way, in the show the aliens aren't very nice!
PETITION
FAX CONGRESS FREE: Say NO to Amnesty for Illegals!
Scroll Down A Few Links To The Petition
This is what happens when you have 60's hippies running things.
Good catch, forgot about that. If I see some pinkos blocking exits off the Beltway, I'm turning the 4 wheel drive on and going over/through them. I hate these numbnuts who think their position warrants shutting down civilization to make a point.
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