Posted on 04/30/2006 1:49:41 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
NEW YORK - Now that immigrants have grabbed the nation's attention, what next?
Monday has been set aside for immigrants to boycott work, school and shopping to show how much they matter to their communities. But with some growing tired of street protests, and others afraid they'll be deported or fired for walking out, people are planning to support the effort in myriad ways.
Some will work but buy nothing on Monday. Others will protest at lunch breaks or at rallies after work. There will be church services, candlelight vigils, picnics and human chains.
The range of activities shows both how powerful the immigrants' rights movement has become in a matter of weeks, and that organizers don't yet have a clear focus on its next step.
"It's highly unpredictable what's going to happen," said Harley Shaiken, director of the Center for Latin American studies at the University of California, Berkeley. "What unites everyone that's going to do something on May 1 is they are making visible their strong feelings."
Thanks to the success of previous rallies plus media attention, planning for Monday's events, collectively called Un Dia Sin Inmigrantes - A Day Without Immigrants - is widespread.
Officials in Los Angeles braced for huge crowds: Assistant Police Chief George Gascon said as many as 500,000 people could take part.
In smaller cities such as Allentown, Pa., Omaha, Neb., and Knoxville, Tenn., immigrants and their allies have been going door to door with fliers, making posters and sharpening speeches. In New Mexico, restaurants cooked meals this weekend that they'll donate food for Monday picnics in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
In Pomona, Calif., about 30 miles east of Los Angeles, dozens of men who frequent a day labor center voted unanimously to close Monday, said Mike Nava, the center's director.
"If anyone even comes around looking for work that day," Nava said, "the men want him suspended."
Some insist that a boycott is the next key step - beyond marches - to show the nation just how much economic power undocumented workers hold. "The marches are a tool, but they are being overused," said Mahonrry Hidalgo, head of the immigration committee of New Jersey's Latino Leadership Alliance. Like civil rights boycotts of decades past, he said, "this could finally be the spark for our people to advance."
In New Jersey, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, people boycotting work will march to the offices of elected officials to urge them to support pro-immigrant legislation. In California, although a spokeswoman for Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said a boycott would "hurt everyone," Democratic state senators passed a resolution supporting walkouts.
Still, there's a big divide over the boycott's merits.
"To encourage people not to go to work or children not to go to school is counterproductive," Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition."
Opponents of illegal immigration spent the weekend building a fence to symbolize their support of a secure border. About 200 volunteers organized by the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps of California worked on a six-foot barbed-wire fence along a quarter-mile stretch of rugged terrain near the U.S.-Mexico border about 50 miles east of San Diego.
Many worry that not working or spending money will alienate business leaders, and that cutting classes sends an anti-education message. Even Los Angeles' Spanish-language disc jockeys, who helped fuel marches hundreds of thousands strong in recent weeks, have toned it down. "We have to demonstrate that we came here to succeed," said Eduardo Sotelo, whose morning show, "Piolin por la Manana," is syndicated nationwide.
Many of Monday's organizers are finding less contentious ways of joining.
Some marches and voter information meetings are scheduled for after work and school hours. Those who go to school or work are being urged to wear white clothes or white armbands. Several school districts have sent letters home to parents and threatened punishment if students have unexcused absences, but some plan to focus on immigration issues in classes and seminars on campus.
In each of New York City's five boroughs, thousands of workers are expected to take work breaks shortly after noon to link arms with shoppers, restaurant-goers and other supporters along city sidewalks for about 20 minutes. "This will symbolize the interdependence of all of us, not just immigrants, but all of society," said Chung-Wa Hong, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition.
Organizers in Phoenix hoped to have enough people to make a 25-mile human chain winding through the city to symbolize the unity of the Latino community on the day observed elsewhere around the world as International Workers' Day. However, they canceled that plan because of safety concerns and instead set out several smaller demonstrations.
Many hope that workers' bosses also will join their efforts - and some already are showing their support.
Some big businesses are shutting down operations, corporate spokesmen said: Six of 14 Perdue Farms plants will close; Gallo Wines in Sonoma, Calif., is giving its 150 employees the day off; Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, will shut five of its nine beef plants and four of six pork plants.
Greg Schirf, owner of Wasatch Beers in Utah, said that when some of his Latino employees sheepishly asked if they could take off Monday, he responded: "How about this? We'll just take a company holiday. We'll call it 'Latino Appreciation Day.'"
Such attitudes are quelling some of the anxiety that has bubbled up nationwide since federal officials arrested more than 1,100 immigrant employees and seven managers at 40 sites of IFCO Systems, which makes crates and pallets. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he plans to step up workplace enforcement of immigration laws.
"During information we've been presenting to different organizations (about Monday's events), we usually spend 20 to 30 minutes just explaining if we were to have or not have a raid," said Houston activist Maria Jimenez of the Central American Resource Center. "We've seen a lot of fear in the community."
Many are expected to find solace in religious services.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged immigrants to attend Mass instead of boycotting, and suggested that churches toll their bells in memory of immigrants who died trying to come to the U.S.
BARF!! The Catholic Church really is anti-American. It's all about the money.
Why don't they just march back across the border - pied piper like.
I hope they boycott all the hospitals, where they get care without paying
Well, well... what I dont understand is, how are these people even daring to protest.
Illegal is illegal. If they show up to do some mexican flagwaving, BCIS shouldnt look a gift horse in the mouth, and should take the opportunity to kick them right back ouot of the country.
Thatll put the fear of beelzebub in em.
Perhaps we should show our appreciation for Amerca by mass boycotting tithing. Instead of money, I'll stick a little note in one of my envelopes and let them know I don't appreciate them participating in illegal activity. Of course I'll need to be specific about WHICH illegal activity.
However, if these illegals have the luxury to skip work for these protests, it shows how less-than-motivated and reliable these workers actually are. Employers would have more reason to dump them.
I guess they are hoping to gather a few pieces of silver from illegal immigrants.
"Employers would have more reason to dump them."
Some employers appear to be encouraging this!!
"Some big businesses are shutting down operations, corporate spokesmen said: Six of 14 Perdue Farms plants will close; Gallo Wines in Sonoma, Calif., is giving its 150 employees the day off; Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, will shut five of its nine beef plants and four of six pork plants.
Greg Schirf, owner of Wasatch Beers in Utah, said that when some of his Latino employees sheepishly asked if they could take off Monday, he responded: "How about this? We'll just take a company holiday. We'll call it 'Latino Appreciation Day.'"
Some are in fear of what will be done to them by the "boycotter" leadership -- if they do not boycott.
It is not up to any church to look out for this country, including law enforcement; we are SUPPOSED to have others to do that.
Christianity isn't about church politics however, it's about Salvation through Jesus Christ.
They should stick to spreading the word, I agree. This is not the first time these bishops have stuck their noses where they don't belong. Perhaps catholics should send in their concerns about these idiots.
Raymond Arroyo of EWTN stated that only 70 of 197 diocese signed on to this USCCB document! Hence, less than half the Bishops signed on to this document!
Raymond made this statement on Friday, April 28th on his show the World Over!
THe Church often speaks for those who can't speak for themselves. I don't hear many people arguing when the Church reminds this Country of the horrible sin of Abortion or the horrible perils of cloning. Its a unpopular view I know. But I am not sure if the proposed cure for this illegal immigration problem that many are voicing is not more deadly than the disease. Its like trying to cure a headache with Chemotherapy. I want this immigration problem solved. But I don't want America to lose its soul in the process. I feel this most strongly as regarding family units that are established here where one member or more is a illegal. At some point the cure becomes immoral.
I guess the point is that there are many post that criticize the Church's position. However very few have taken the time to review where the Church is coming from. Catholics in good faith can hold a wide spectrum of views on this subject and the proposed solution. However, the Church is reminding us that there is a human dignity that must be respected.
Look, these aren't people who can't speak for themselves. They aren't poor 'refugees" seeking food and shelter from some horrible dictator.
Many MANY of these are cumming, smart, CRIMMINALS. Drug dealers, thieves, murderers, convicts, rapists, etc.
This is NOT the same situation as some 3rd world country, such as Dafur.
And above all else, this group should stick to official vatican material, not make it up as they go along. It is well and fine that YOU know what the churches position is on these matters, but the average American does not. These men only do damage to the church with their statements, which we can both see are not very well thought out.
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