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Title: Immigrants Walk Off the Job in Boycott
Source:
Yahoo News
URL Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060501 ... u=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-
Published: May 1, 2006
Author: By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Wri
Post Date: 2006-05-01 18:49:59 by Zipporah
Keywords: None
Views: 582
Comments: 96
Yahoo! News 10 minutes ago Hundreds of thousands of mostly Hispanic immigrants skipped work and took to the streets Monday, flexing their economic muscle in a nationwide boycott that succeeded in slowing or shutting many farms, factories, markets and restaurants. From Los Angeles to Chicago, Houston to New Orleans, the "Day Without Immigrants" attracted widespread participation despite divisions among activists over whether a boycott would send the right message to Washington lawmakers considering sweeping immigration reform. "We are the backbone of what America is, legal or illegal, it doesn't matter," said Melanie Lugo, who was among thousands attending a rally in Denver with her husband and their third-grade daughter. "We butter each other's bread. They need us as much as we need them." Police estimated 400,000 people marched through Chicago's business district and tens of thousands more rallied in New York and Los Angeles, where police stopped giving estimates at 60,000 as the crowd kept growing. An estimated 75,000 rallied in Denver, more than 15,000 in Houston and 30,000 more across Florida. Smaller rallies in cities from Pennsylvania and Connecticut to Arizona and South Dakota attracted hundreds not thousands. In Los Angeles, protesters wearing white and waving U.S. flags sang the national anthem in English as traditional Mexican dancers wove through the crowd. In Chicago, illegal immigrants from Ireland and Poland marched alongside Hispanics as office workers on lunch breaks clapped. In Phoenix, protesters formed a human chain in front of Wal-Mart and Home Depot stores. A protest in Tijuana, Mexico blocked vehicle traffic heading to San Diego at the world's busiest border crossing. Many carried signs in Spanish that translated to "We are America" and "Today we march, tomorrow we vote." Others waved Mexican flags or wore hats and scarves from their native countries. Some chanted "USA" while others shouted slogans, such as "Si se puede!," Spanish for "Yes, it can be done!" Others were more irreverent, wearing T-shirts that read "I'm illegal. So what?" The White House reacted coolly. "The president is not a fan of boycotts," said press secretary Scott McClellan. "People have the right to peacefully express their views, but the president wants to see comprehensive reform pass the Congress so that he can sign it into law." The boycott was organized by immigrant activists angered by federal legislation that would criminalize illegal immigrants and fortify the U.S-Mexico border. Its goal was to raise awareness about immigrants' economic power. But the effect was minimal in some places. On Manhattan's bustling 14th Street, only a few shops were closed, including a Spanish-language bookstore and a tiny Latin American restaurant. Miriam Chaikin pulled on the door several times, hoping to get an order of beans, rice and plantains. "The country needs immigrants," Chaikin said. "I think I would like them all to speak English and sing the national anthem in English the way my parents did, but we're a nation of immigrants." Industries that rely on immigrant workers were clearly affected, though the impact was not uniform. Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, shuttered about a dozen of its more than 100 plants and saw "higher-than-usual absenteeism" at others. Most of the closures were in states such as Iowa and Nebraska. Eight of 14 Perdue Farms chicken plants also closed for the day. Secaucus, N.J.-based Goya Foods, which says it is the nation's largest Hispanic-owned food chain, suspended delivery everywhere except Florida, keeping 300 trucks off the road and leaving more than 5 million products in warehouses an extra day. A spokeswoman said the company wanted to express solidarity with immigrants who are its primary customers. None of the 175 seasonal laborers who normally work Mike Collins' 500 acres of Vidalia onion fields in southeastern Georgia showed up. "We need to be going wide open this time of year to get these onions out of the field," he said. "We've got orders to fill. Losing a day in this part of the season causes a tremendous amount of problems." It was the same story in Indiana, where the owner of a landscaping business said he was at a loss. About 25 Hispanic workers — 90 percent of the field work force — never reported Monday to Salsbery Brothers Landscaping. "We're basically shut down in our busiest month of the year," said owner Jeff Salsbery. "It's going to cost me thousands of dollars." In the Los Angeles area, restaurants and markets were dark and truckers avoided the nation's largest shipping port. About one in three small businesses was closed downtown, including the cluttered produce market and fashion district. The construction and nursery industries were among the hardest hit by the work stoppage in Florida. Bill Spann, executive vice president of the Associated General Contractors of Greater Florida said more than half the workers at construction sites in Miami-Dade County did not show up Monday. "If I lose my job, it's worth it," said Jose Cruz, an immigrant from El Salvador who protested with several thousand others in the rural Florida city of Homestead rather than work his construction job. "It's worth losing several jobs to get my papers." The impact on schools was significant. In the sprawling Los Angeles Unified School District, which is 73 percent Hispanic, about 72,000 middle and high school students were absent — roughly one in every four. In San Francisco, Benita Olmedo pulled her 11-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son from school. "I want my children to know their mother is not a criminal," said Olmedo, a nanny who came here illegally in 1986 from Mexico. "I want them to be as strong I am. This shows our strength." In the normally bustling Port of Long Beach, about 30 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, was eerily quiet, with many truck drivers avoiding work. Lunch truck operator Sammy Rodriguez, 77, said 100 trucks normally line up in the mornings outside the California United Terminals. On Monday, he said, just three or four showed up. Some of the rallies drew small numbers of counter-protesters, including one in Pensacola, Fla. "You should send all of the 13 million aliens home, then you take all of the welfare recipients who are taking a free check and make them do those jobs," said Jack Culberson, a retired Army colonel who attended the Pensacola rally. "It's as simple as that." Jesse Hernandez, who owns a Birmingham, Ala., company that supplies Hispanic laborers to companies around the Southeast, shut down his four-person office in solidarity with the demonstrations. "Unfortunately," he said, "human nature is that you don't really know what you have until you don"t have it." ___ Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Laura Wides-Munoz in Homestead, Fla.; Janet McConnaughey in New Orleans; Jon Sarche in Denver; Alex Veiga in Long Beach, Calif.; Andrew Dalton and Christina Almeida in Los Angeles; Greg Bluestein in Atlanta; Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Ala.; Jordan Robertson in San Francisco; Michael Rubinkam in Allentown, Pa.; and Gregg Aamott in Minneapolis.
A crowd of people rally at the Capitol in Denver on Monday, May 1, 2006, in favor of immigration reform. Denver's City and County Building and the Rocky Mountains can be seen in the distance. Wearing symbolic white and waving both American and Mexican flags, tens of thousands of people marched through Denver on Monday, hoping to demonstrate the economic power of immigrants, illegal and legal, across the country. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) 
mmigrants chant slogans during a rally Monday, May 1, 2006 in Miami. Illegal immigrants and their allies in Florida gathered Monday at marches, prayers and demonstrations on a planned national day of economic protest, boycotting work, school and shopping to show their importance to the country. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) 
mmigrants and their supporters gather in front of Lowell City Hall in Lowell, Mass., Monday, May 1, 2006, for a rally to support the national struggle to demand respect and citizenship to undocumented families and individuals in the United States.(AP Photo/Chitose Suzuki) 
Immigration protestors shout at counter-demonstrators during a rally and march in Orlando, Fla., Monday, May 1, 2006. The event drew over 20,000 people according to estimates by the Orlando Police Department. (AP Photo/John Raoux) 
Oscar Paz of Honduras, holds a sign as he chants slogans during a rally Monday, May 1, 2006 in Miami. Immigrants and their allies in Florida gathered Monday at marches, prayers and demonstrations on a planned national day of economic protest, boycotting work, school and shopping to show their importance to the country. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) 
Workers demonstrate at a rally in Union Square in New York, May 1, 2006, as they take part in what was being billed as 'A Day Without Immigrants,' a nationwide protest staged by immigrant rights advocates to protest proposed legislation to reform U.S. immigration law. REUTERS/Mike Segar 
McDonald's, the fast-food giant, paid tribute to its foreign workers and said it "strongly supports" immigration reform.(AFP)
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#33. To: Kamala (#7)
Now, my question is, where is the black masked, Gov/SS/Nazi presence with the machine guns and such? If the govt goons were up for the job (like they were in New York and Boston during the conventions) then some of these "peace loving, hard working, non violent, apple pie eatin' backbones of America" would have been arrested (you know, for singing GOD BLESS AMERICA too loud and disturbing the peace) and then some of BushCo's buddies would have been short on workers and probably lose money, (restaurants, construction trades and agribiz) and then someone would have had some explaining to do... Also, BushCo hopes that the illegal voters will touch the elephants on the screens, and the govt knows that anti war protestors won't. Now is a good time to remember that in Miami the cops shot non violent anti-war protestors in their faces and on any exposed skin they could hit with nasty, plastic bullets. And, I'm assuming from the closely-cropped pix (except the first) that these rallies mostly fizzled.
Pournelle was talking about the highways. He said the only thing he noticed was that service was "a little slow" at McDonalds (like I eat there anyway). Strikes in my area? I live in the Midwest, and not a big city. They try anything where I live, and they'd be eaten for breakfast. One Mexican woman in my area was trying to organize something, and she was arrested and deported. I've told people many times this country will be saved by the Midwest and the South, not the child molesters on the East and West Coasts.
"I aim to misbehave" -- Mal Reynolds, Firefly
Strikes in my area? I live in the Midwest, and not a big city. They try anything where I live, and they'd be eaten for breakfast. One Mexican woman in my area was trying to organize something, and she was arrested and deported. I've told people many times this country will be saved by the Midwest and the South, not the child molesters on the East and West Coasts. I live in the midwest too.. but there are a LOT of illegals here.. started at the race track .. mainly working at restaurants.. I talked to a local cop here and he told me he tried to call INS/Homeland Security.. when he arrested a couple of illegals..and they told him call them back when they had 25 !! He was none too happy. He also said .. just wait.. til the gangs start here.. Also the fastest growing illegal population is in Georgia..so much for the south!
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
Remind me again...what are we doing in Iraq? We have bigger problems right here on our own soil.
Funny you should ask.. "The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
MS-13? Already here...
911, terrists, wake up, slavey!
Mmm-kay...no more Tyson, no more Perdue, no more Goya, no more restaurants, mow my own lawn.
When this cop told me this.. they werent as yet in my area..
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
I'm afraid you're right. The political whores in DC will do anything they want while flipping us the bird. That asshole in the picture may as well be Shrub. TheStateInc has forced people into only one desperate option, a foolish move on the part of the NWO devils. That option is mutual assured destruction. MAD. The old nuclear doctrine. When people no longer have a voice....they will resort to less desirable actions. Hey, remember a few months back, when the anti-war rallies were held across America. The SS/Gestapo/Nazi/Darth Vader presence was overwhelming, and I don`t recall an incedent before, during or after the marches.
#34. To: Zipporah (#28)
Really?? Some of the photos showed thousands of them in the streets I would think it would cause a problem re traffic..Were there any strikes in your area?? None here.. at least I didnt see any today..
#35. To: YertleTurtle (#34)
Pournelle was talking about the highways. He said the only thing he noticed was that service was "a little slow" at McDonalds (like I eat there anyway).
#36. To: Zipporah (#0)
#37. To: who knows what evil (#36)
Remind me again...what are we doing in Iraq? We have bigger problems right here on our own soil.
#38. To: Zipporah (#35)
til the gangs start here..
#39. To: who knows what evil (#36)
Remind me again...what are we doing in Iraq?
#40. To: Zipporah (#0)
#41. To: who knows what evil (#38)
MS-13? Already here...
#42. To: christine, all, jethro tull (#31)
not to mention it's the very same people who print the money out of thin air who have funded this. we can't win. it's over folks. this is the culmination of a plan that's been in the making for decades.
America as we once knew it is finished.
#43. To: Dakmar (#39)
I be shufflin' fas' as I can, massah...
911, terrists, wake up, slavey!
#44. To: who knows what evil (#40)
.. and no Home Depot!!
Mmm-kay...no more Tyson, no more Perdue, no more Goya, no more restaurants, mow my own lawn.
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
#45. To: who knows what evil (#43)
slavey is my new favorite word
#46. To: IndieTX (#42)
Everytime I see that photo.. it just makes me want to ..to .. I dont know what but it's maddening!!
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
#47. To: Zipporah (#44)
you know the drill
#48. To: Dakmar (#47)
Ah it's time for the Melvins!!! what else?? Zodiac?? My sign ..? ;P
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
#49. To: Zipporah (#48)
Melvins seem just as resistant as anything else, if not hideously so. I've changed since I let my sideburns grow out.
#50. To: Dakmar (#49)
Mr. Peepers is that you??
Melvins seem just as resistant as anything else, if not hideously so. I've changed since I let my sideburns grow out.
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
#51. To: Dakmar (#49)
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. – George Washington "If the president made us go to war with Iraq, why doesn't he go over there and fight the war?" Christian May [6th grader]
#52. To: robin (#51)
That's an expensive car, I bet the Ford Foundation is paying for it.
#53. To: Zipporah (#50)
Life was so much simpler back when Mr. Peepers was on t.v.... Mr. Peepers is that you??
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. – George Washington "If the president made us go to war with Iraq, why doesn't he go over there and fight the war?" Christian May [6th grader]
#54. To: Dakmar (#52)
Who paid for all the flags? 
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. – George Washington "If the president made us go to war with Iraq, why doesn't he go over there and fight the war?" Christian May [6th grader]
#55. To: All (#54)
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. – George Washington "If the president made us go to war with Iraq, why doesn't he go over there and fight the war?" Christian May [6th grader]
#56. To: Zipporah (#35)
You wait until these illegals end up buried in the Ozarks. I don't mean illegals in big cities. I mean all the small towns. I know the kind of people who live in them very well.
when he arrested a couple of illegals..and they told him call them back when they had 25 !!
"I aim to misbehave" -- Mal Reynolds, Firefly
#57. To: Zipporah (#20)
all that red nose and around it........is that from cocaine?
#58. To: Zipporah (#50)
Mr. Peepers is that you??
#59. To: robin (#54)
Now isnt this odd robin?? For THIS they're all carrying US flags?? Hmm odd dont you think?? For its been MEXICAN flags up till now.. .. very suspect IMO.
Who paid for all the flags?
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
#60. To: robin (#51)
yeah dont you just love the BIG 'F U' that the passenger is waving at us?? Hmmmmm
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
#61. To: robin (#54)
Amway?
Who paid for all the flags?
#62. To: Zipporah (#60)
Last night I posted nothing but links to govt stats on Craigslist about illegals. From the Justice dept (incarceration stats), to the BLS (97% of jobs taken by illegals are jobs Americans want and need). I was called a racist (several times), a troll, lacking decency, ignorant, etc. Only one person posted anything of substance, a link to Money CNN stating that illegals make veggies cost less. But, that's not even true. We would have made machines by now to pick those veggies, but the farmers had a cheaper choice, that cost the taxpayers billions. Incarceration of criminal aliens cost an estimated $624 million to state prisons (1999) and $891 million to federal prisons (2002), according to the most recent available figure from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. CRIME VICTIMS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS
3% of Illegal Aliens Do Low-Paid Stoop Agricultural Labor;
the Remaining 97% Take Jobs That Americans Want and Need
The most recent Pew Hispanic Center 's study indicates that 97% of 12 to 20 million illegal aliens are working in construction, hospitality, manufacturing, restaurant, administrative and service jobs. Are these jobs that Americans will not do?
My name is Tony Dolz . I am a foreign-born Hispanic legal immigrant, now a naturalized citizen. My wife is also a foreign-born legal immigrant. In our family we celebrate legal immigration and oppose illegal immigration.
Cost of illegal immigration in California estimated at nearly $9 billion
Local farmers say migrant farmworkers are critical to their businesses, and without them they would have to close their farms or move their operations overseas.
Martin disagrees. He said illegal immigrants displace American workers by taking low-skilled jobs, keep wages low by creating an overabundance of workers and stifle innovation by reducing the need for mechanized labor.
"The product of the illegal immigrant is not included (in the report) because if that is an essential product it will get done one way or another," Martin said. Employers "would have to pay better wages or invest money on mechanization."
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. – George Washington "If the president made us go to war with Iraq, why doesn't he go over there and fight the war?" Christian May [6th grader]
#63. To: Zipporah (#0)
AMEN!
"You should send all of the 13 million aliens home, then you take all of the welfare recipients who are taking a free check and make them do those jobs," said Jack Culberson, a retired Army colonel who attended the Pensacola rally. "It's as simple as that."
Impeach Bush. The man was lost and then he was found and now he's more lost than ever -- and he's taking us into the darkness with him. It's time to remove him. By Garrison Keillor [2006-03-01]
#64. To: Dakmar (#61)
Oh, then Shaklee provided the hats and scarves.
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. – George Washington "If the president made us go to war with Iraq, why doesn't he go over there and fight the war?" Christian May [6th grader]
#65. To: Zipporah (#0)
I didn't notice a damned bit of difference today when I was out shopping. In fact, WHAT I DID SEE, was a few Mexican Chicas picking up beer from the local liquor store. So much for Boycott The Gringo.
 | What's that Mr. Nipples? You want me to ask the nice lady about her rack?. |
#66. To: robin (#64)
It's all ball bearings these days.
Oh, then Shaklee provided the hats and scarves.
#67. To: who knows what evil (#36)
Speaking of, how do you think the troops feel over there seeing pictures of the Mexican Flag being marched down their country's streets?
Remind me again...what are we doing in Iraq? We have bigger problems right here on our own soil.
Impeach Bush. The man was lost and then he was found and now he's more lost than ever -- and he's taking us into the darkness with him. It's time to remove him. By Garrison Keillor [2006-03-01]
#68. To: robin (#62)
No it's not true.. PLUS consider the added cost.. maybe not seen on the vegetables.. but the costs we pay elsewhere for their healthcare.. education costs.. etc etc.. its no bargain to us.. thats a crock.. thanks for these stats too robin.
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
#69. To: justlurking (#67)
Speaking of, how do you think the troops feel over there seeing pictures of the Mexican Flag being marched down their country's streets? Wait 'til we get to Tehran. “The notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. And having said that, all options are on the table.” –Geo. W. Bush 22 Feb, 2005
Remind me again...what are we doing in Iraq? We have bigger problems right here on our own soil.
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. – George Washington "If the president made us go to war with Iraq, why doesn't he go over there and fight the war?" Christian May [6th grader]
#70. To: robin (#51)
There's some real family-types-not-stopping-at-the-rio-grande in that car. /sarc
#71. To: TommyTheMadArtist (#65)
Should May 2 be declared official resaca post mayos dos dayo oh come daylight?
In fact, WHAT I DID SEE, was a few Mexican Chicas picking up beer from the local liquor store.
#72. To: TommyTheMadArtist (#65)
In fact, WHAT I DID SEE, was a few Mexican Chicas picking up beer from the local liquor store. So much for Boycott The Gringo. Me either.. when I was buying gas near a school.. I saw an illegal picking up his kid(s) at school..
I didn't notice a damned bit of difference today when I was out shopping.
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
#73. To: justlurking (#63)
Make that a double!!!
AMEN!
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
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