Posted on 04/30/2006 6:49:21 PM PDT by NCjim
Some fear backlash, job loss; others say protest shows U.S. dependency
(Charlotte, NC) - With a nationwide pro-immigrant boycott set for Monday, Latinos in Charlotte are torn between allegiances to the movement and fears that joining the protest may cost them their livelihoods.
Millions across the country are expected to skip work and school as part of "A Day Without Immigrants" to dramatize their importance to the U.S. economy. But recent federal raids and a vow to crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants have heightened anxiety in Latino communities.
Many educators, unions and immigrants oppose the boycott, and some worry it could court a polarizing backlash.
Local Latino leaders, including the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte, encourage people to attend a planned evening vigil in Marshall Park, rather than risk losing their jobs and hurting business.
Leaders in other cities from Los Angeles to Miami have echoed similar pleas.
Seemingly just as many activists are pushing for the boycott this May Day -- internationally celebrated as labor day, with cultural resonance in many parts of Latin America.
Outreach group El Vínculo Hispano in Siler City, about 100 miles northeast of Charlotte, is advocating immigrants boycott school, work and businesses.
By giving a glimpse of what life would be like without people to build homes, cook food in restaurants, tend farm crops and clean hotel rooms, some boycott leaders hope to show how dependent the country is on immigrant workers.
"Our credibility as a community is on the line," said Armando Navarro, coordinator of the National Alliance for Human Rights, a Southern California organization pushing the boycott. "We've shown our power politically, but if we can't show it economically we are going to lose it."
Employers and absenteeism
In Charlotte, the subject has topped the morning show of Spanish-language radio station Radio Lider (WNOW-AM, 1030). It has received at least 100 calls a morning, said station reporter Jorge Medina.The issue also remains a hot topic for employers.
Dave Barbee, area manager for Charlotte landscaping firm Realiscape Inc., said he discussed the boycott with his workers last week. He expects about half of his company's 20 employees will be absent Monday.
"I'd be foolish for firing them for doing what they think is important," he said, adding that his Hispanic workers are in the country legally. "We need to change some legislation and control the borders. And until we do that, we've got what we've asked for."
U.S. senators returned to work last week and renewed debates on proposed immigration legislation. Organizers of the national boycott want Congress to pass a law granting those living here illegally, including an estimated 390,000 in North Carolina, an avenue to legalization.
Not since the Cesar Chavez-led boycotts of the early 1970s for better pay and working conditions for field workers have immigrants mustered such national political visibility -- and vulnerability.
Gilberto Bergman, chief executive of Bergman Brothers Staffing & Consulting in Charlotte, said he plans to skip work Monday.
The Nicaraguan immigrant is a U.S. citizen. His 100-employee firm places immigrants in skilled blue-collar and white-collar jobs.
"I want to go to the streets with my Latino community and be there to show my support," Bergman said. "The federal government should take care of this problem."
Darin Brockelbank supports his employees' right to take part in the boycott. But the owner of Charlotte backyard architecture firm Metro-Greenscape Inc. has told his 16 Hispanic employees he likely will fire them if they do.
"We understand where they're coming from," Brockelbank said. "But they need to consider the people who are looking out for them and that's their employer."
He added that his company has paid for English classes, helped set up bank accounts and arranged car loans for those employees, who he said are in the country legally.
Discipline for participation?
Some warn that disciplining workers for taking part in Monday's boycott could violate federal labor law.
Kenny Colbert, president of Charlotte human resources firm The Employers Association, last week sent letters to 760 member companies. He noted the National Labor Relations Act protects employees who engage in "concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection."
Political speech is not protected under NLRA, he said, but "this could be a close call."
The Service Employees International Union is urging all its members to participate in after-hours activities. About 11 percent of its 1.8 million members are immigrants. "We're not calling for a boycott," said spokeswoman Avril Smith in Washington.
Meanwhile, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools interim Superintendent Frances Haithcock sent letters to parents last week urging students to stay in school Monday. Nearly 400 CMS students skipped class on April 10 and in other demonstrations. The district has some 14,800 Hispanic students, about 12 percent.
Haithcock said she "cannot continue to tolerate repeated `walkouts,' " a position other school districts nationwide have taken.
Antonio Lovo, 17, a junior at Vance High School in the University City area, said young people want their opinions heard, too.
He is leading an effort for students to remain in class and then attend a 3 p.m. student demonstration at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Morehead Street. Students from several high schools will march to the main demonstration at Marshall Park, he said.
"These immigration laws are going to affect us deeply. We're the youth and we're the next generation," said Lovo, president of the Student Union of Latin-American Leaders.
Regardless, some in the local immigrant community remain guarded since this month's raid on a national palette maker. About 1,200 were arrested, including 44 in Charlotte.
"They don't think it's the same climate ... they don't feel it's the same Charlotte," said Raquel Lynch, operations and programs director at the Latin American Coalition, which is helping organize Monday's vigil. "People feel that they will not be safe. They fear they will either be deported or harassed in some way."
You bet there is a backlash. I am sick of seeing these illegals soak up the medical system.
..yeah the jobs Americans don't want
Maybe someone will throw a net over all of them, and get these criminal freeloaders out of our country -- the job our pols in Washington are worthless for.
Jobs Americans wont do. LOL
Some fear backlash, job loss...
Let the games begin.
Just like Liberals, the more you see the more you understand and resent them. I think the more they show their A@# the more people will realize what is happening.
The risk is everyone will realize how unneeded and harmful all of this illegal immigration really is while MayDay passes into history.
It's not we have so many jobs native citizens are unwilling to do. It's the fact that the dole is too lucrative. Under NO circumstances should the total cash dollar value of government assistance to anyone exceed what could be earned working 40 hours a week for minimum wage. Add up the free housing, heating and cooling assistance, food stamps, bonuses for raising idiotic and undisciplined kids, etc. and any able bodied high school dropout would be a fool to have a job.
I used to care about their concerns. I used to be behind GW's guest worker idea.
Well, these protestors have had an effect. Namely, I no longer give a schit about them. They can go right straight to Hell and take their "die whitey," Atzlan and socialist crap with them.
Am I mad? You bet your ###.
Backlash? That is far too mild a term for what I'm feeling. Will deporting 12,000,000 people hurt our economy? Will it be tough and involve violence and misery? Almost certainly, but I for one no longer care. Spit in our faces, say that we should die, threaten us, claim part of our nation as yours, expect special treatment (NOT equal), break our laws, try to shut down our cities and halt our economy? Well, fine, that's the type of relationship you want, you got it, at least from me.
FOAD, ######s.
I don't have a problem with people demonstrating. I'm just tired of people sneaking into the country.
"I want to go to the streets with my Latino community and be there to show my support"
Lets be clear about one thing here... This isn't about 'rights', etc... it's about race. Most illegals DESPISE 'gringos' and view white northeners as racist, neonazi oppressors. Thats the basic fact no one in the media has the nards to publically express.
Now if they just saw risk in being here illegally.
These "Latinos see risk" and "illegal immigrants afraid to protest" and "LA Mayor to be in NFL Talks" stories seem to be making the rounds on the MSM tonight.
This is a sign to me that this whole deal is going to be a major dud tomorrow (as it should be), and that the organizers are already putting stories out there to create excuses for what will be a huge failure.
You have no risk as long as Bush is president. Do anything illegal you want, it will all be considered legal.
I say we turn this boycott on them and not just for one day.
Don't buy products made in Mexico, don't eat out at Mexican restaurants and phone in every suspicious illegal to the INS.
Oh, BTW, the lady who cleans my house is a LEGAL Russian immigrant. If she were a LEGAL Mexican immigrant, that would be just fine with me -- UNLESS she particpated in this "shut down the USA" crap, then she'd be FIRED.
Immigration -- LEGAL immigration -- is one of our greatest strengths. I don't care if you are white, black, or brown -- or even blue and orange for that matter. DON'T TRY TO INTIMIDATE ME, and that's what this is all about, INTIMIDATION. Well, I react one way to intimidation, and that's with ANGER and doing EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE of what the intimidator wants me to do.
If these asshats would have assimilated at ALL into the US, they'd understand that, because such a reaction is the American mindset. Apparently they haven't, but that goes without saying, doesn't it?
LOL! Funny how all these companies just happen to find all of the "legal" immigrants.
Shhh. Don't you know that you are a white racist pig? /s
X2. Run for office. You have my vote.
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