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Title: Immigrants Try to Extend Boycott Momentum
Source:
Yahoo! News
URL Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060502 ... u=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-
Published: May 2, 2006
Author: By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Wri
Post Date: 2006-05-02 16:00:46 by Zipporah
Keywords: None
Views: 269
Comments: 33
Tue May 2, 12:30 PM ET Illegal immigrants and their supporters vowed to keep up the pressure on Congress for reforms after more than 1 million people stepped out of the shadows and poured into the streets in a nationwide show of economic clout. A day after rallies, boycotts and marches in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Miami and elsewhere, the challenge for immigration advocates was to extend the momentum of Monday's "Day Without Immigrants" into a sustainable effort to get immigrants more involved in the political process. "We have far exceeded our expectations," said Mahonrry Hidalgo, chairman of the Immigration Committee of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey. "The events are intended to show solidarity and, at the same time, send a message that injustice against the immigrant community is unacceptable. This is not the end of our struggle. It is the beginning." The boycott was organized by immigrant activists angered by federal legislation that would criminalize an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants and fortify the U.S-Mexico border. While some businesses suffered, the marches were festive — despite divisions among activists who argued a boycott would alienate federal lawmakers. In all, police departments and local officials in more than two dozen U.S. cities contacted by The Associated Press gave crowd estimates that totaled about 1.1 million marchers. Two major rallies in Los Angeles attracted an estimated 400,000, according to the mayor's office. Another 400,000 marched through Chicago's downtown business district, police estimated. The list was long: As many as 30,000 in Houston, 50,000 in San Jose, 30,000 more across Florida. From New Mexico to Tennessee to Massachusetts, smaller rallies attracted hundreds more. Marchers standing shoulder-to-shoulder sang and chanted and danced in the streets wearing American flags as capes and bandanas. In most cities, those who rallied wore white to signify peace and solidarity and waved signs reading "We are America" and "Today we march, tomorrow we vote." In Los Angeles, marchers held U.S. flags aloft and sang the national anthem in English as traditional Mexican dancers and Korean drummers wove through the crowd. In Philadelphia, about a thousand people from different marches converged in the historic area near the Liberty Bell. In Washington, D.C., rallies were scattered but the White House took note — spokesman Scott McClellan said President Bush disapproved of the boycott. While most demonstrations were peaceful, a Santa Ana rally of 5,000 in California was marred by people hurling rocks and plastic bottles at officers. Police made several arrests, but it was unclear if they were protesters. Two people were arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Both men had been throwing rocks and bottles at police, Officer Jason Lee said. And a march in Seattle was disrupted when a car struck a group of marchers, though injuries were minor: The driver was arrested, five other people were arrested for possible weapons violations and one person was arrested for obstructing. Industries that rely on immigrant workers were clearly affected, though the impact was not uniform. There was low attendance at hotels in Indianapolis, construction sites in Miami and plant nurseries and landscapers across a wide area. Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, shuttered about a dozen of its more than 100 plants. Eight of 14 Perdue Farms chicken plants also closed for the day. The rallies shut down 29 branches of Chipotle Mexican Grill, a Denver-based fast-casual dining chain. Goya Foods, which bills itself as the nation's largest Hispanic-owned food chain, suspended delivery everywhere except Florida in what the company called a gesture of solidarity. In the Los Angeles area, many restaurants and markets were dark and truck traffic at the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach — the nation's busiest — was off 90 percent, said spokeswoman Theresa Adams Lopez. The construction industry was hard hit in Florida. More than half the workers at construction sites in Miami-Dade County did not show up, according to Bill Spann, executive vice president of the Associated General Contractors of Greater Florida. "If I lose my job, it's worth it," said Jose Cruz, an immigrant from El Salvador who rather than working his construction job protested with several thousand others in the rural city of Homestead outside Miami. "It's worth losing several jobs to get my papers." About 35 to 40 anti-immigration demonstrators got into shouting matches with pro-immigration marchers as they were leaving a Denver park. Among them were Ron and Marge Mason of Thornton, a Denver suburb. "We're tired of seeing the illegals coming in," Ron Mason said. College Republicans at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte staged a rally of their own Monday, demanding tougher enforcement of existing immigration laws. The GOP group sold $5 bricks symbolic of a wall it said was needed to secure U.S. borders. The impact on some school systems 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." ___ Associated Press writers Jon Sarche in Denver; Alex Veiga in Long Beach, Calif.; Andrew Dalton, Christina Almeida and Peter Prengaman in Los Angeles; Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Ala.; Jordan Robertson in San Francisco; and Ryan Nakashima in Las Vegas contributed to this report.
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#1. To: Zipporah (#0)
These fools are breaking the law, while insisting that they are NOT criminals - RIGHT! Screw the bastards.
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
What momentum?
LOL! Good question..I suppose it's because they see a bunch of illegals gathering and little to no opposition.. AND the legislators on their side..so..
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
How a momentum, started by Amarican citizens to boycott the illegals, their traitor employers and congressmen who sell out this country, a tax BOYCOTT!
I've got the same question. Been asking people I know all over the country the same question -- did you notice anything? Its the same answer everywhere. * The barrios shut down, but nobody goes there anyhow. All in all, of the folks I've talked to, everyone wants to see more boycotts because they feel their lives improved as a result. Nobody seemed to notice a bloody thing except how much BETTER things got. That doesn't seem like "positive momentum" when walking out causes the people you are trying to convince of your worthy cause -- to be happier!
Press 1 for English. Press 2 for Deportation.
I wish!! People have been complacent.. I wonder if it's gotten to the point yet that they actually would do it in the #s that the illegals have?
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907. "In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people." Theodore Roosevelt 1907
My boyfriend and I have already started this. We are no longer eating in any Mexican establishments, nor using any businesses that mainly hire Mexican workers, nor buying any Mexican goods or produce. This actually was quite a big decision for us as our favorite 2 restaurants are both Mexican, but we decided it was more important to make a statement in our own way. If everyone would do the same, these folks would have to leave Dodge.
"I woke up in the CRAZY HOUSE."
What momentum?
But but.. that's just so passe'!!! (Roosevelt was SO right though btw..)
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
Good question.. the only momentum I'm beginning to see now is the disgust by Americans.. that momentum is building.
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
Nixon: "I am not a crook."
mirage's post will make you laugh out loud, tom! :p
"Of the corporate elites, by the corporate elites, for the corporate elites" - it's what America is all about. Now send your kids off to fight and die in Iraq so that corporate pigs get everything and we get nothing. What else have we ever fought for?~~Elliott J
boy, we're f*cked down here in texmex country then. :P
"Of the corporate elites, by the corporate elites, for the corporate elites" - it's what America is all about. Now send your kids off to fight and die in Iraq so that corporate pigs get everything and we get nothing. What else have we ever fought for?~~Elliott J
I know, Chris, but it's got to be done, girl. At least we can starve them out of Massachusetts. Montezuma never got this far. Y'all need to import more Italians.
"I woke up in the CRAZY HOUSE."
that i can do. (g)
"Of the corporate elites, by the corporate elites, for the corporate elites" - it's what America is all about. Now send your kids off to fight and die in Iraq so that corporate pigs get everything and we get nothing. What else have we ever fought for?~~Elliott J
It is unfortunately true! Down in the Bay Area, people were cheering the shorter commutes. Those who drove into East San Jose' to check on things saw the Barrio shut down, but everything else humming along like normal. Same with Boston. Same with St. Louis. Same with Seattle. Same with Portland. Same with Dallas. Same with Atlanta. Same with Denver. Same with Washington DC. Same with....everywhere but Los Angeles, aside from cheering the shorter commute all that anyone noticed was that it was harder to walk down the sidewalk and that the taco stands vanished. What momentum? People got happier because their lives improved for a day and they want more of it!
Press 1 for English. Press 2 for Deportation.
Reporting from Boston - I didn't see any difference. There did seem to be less traffic, which was nice, and our cleaning crew didn't come in at their usual time. But considering what a crappy job they usually do anyway, the difference was not noticeable. A lot of Hispanic businesses were closed, but they mainly serve Hispanics anyway, so it didn't affect us. I'd suggest they try this tactic for at least a year and then we'll report back.
"I woke up in the CRAZY HOUSE."
Uh huh.. rather a parallel isnt it?? ;)
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
No, ya'll have to learn how to cook texmex..
Sounds good to me! The only problems I heard about in the Boston area were in Lawrence where the locals shut down the businesses that serve...themselves. Again, no big deal.
Press 1 for English. Press 2 for Deportation.
I heard the same thing. The really shocking statistic that emerged locally because of yesterday was the number of kids who didn't go to school. I think there was 7000 in the Lawrence system alone. That just shows how many of their kids we're paying for.
"I woke up in the CRAZY HOUSE."
I just heard on Dobbs what we've all expected. There will be nothing done until after the elections. The traitors will not be held accountable for screwing the citizens of the U.S. They're going to put one to us. The slimey bastards.
Yep. My mom teaches in a heavily Hispanic district and had *three* absences yesterday out of the hundred or so that cycle through her classroom each day. Maybe its just an east-coast and southern thing to walk out of school...then again, the local news media calls an "illegal immigrant" just that up here.
Press 1 for English. Press 2 for Deportation.
Okay, I've got a great idea. Everyone who doesn't pay their taxes or file a tax return should go out in force on April 15th, demanding amnesty, and demand tax reform. Then... they all hold signs that say "We Are Not Criminals". See what that brings. I promise you, there would be massive arrests and massive incarcerations. This Immigration Reform LIE, needs to come to an abrupt end.
#2. To: SKYDRIFTER (#1)
#3. To: Zipporah (#0)
#4. To: who knows what evil (#3)
What momentum?
#5. To: Zipporah (#0)
#6. To: who knows what evil (#3)
What momentum?
* The commutes were a LOT better. "Can I have that every day?"
* "I didn't get woken up to a leaf-blower. Can I have that every day?"
#7. To: The 7th MJS2U2 (#5)
How a momentum, started by Amarican citizens to boycott the illegals, their traitor employers and congressmen who sell out this country, a tax BOYCOTT!
#8. To: Zipporah (#0)
#9. To: The 7th MJS2U2 (#5)
#10. To: Zipporah (#0)
Immigrants Try to Extend Boycott Momentum
#11. To: timetobuildaboat (#8)
#12. To: Phaedrus (#10)
What momentum?
#13. To: Zipporah (#2)
#14. To: mirage, Jethro Tull (#6)
#15. To: The 7th MJS2U2, mehitable (#5)
boycott Mexican
#16. To: christine (#15)
#17. To: The 7th MJS2U2 (#5)
a tax BOYCOTT!
#18. To: christine (#14)
mirage's post will make you laugh out loud, tom! :p
#19. To: mirage (#18)
#20. To: Phaedrus (#13)
Nixon: "I am not a crook.
#21. To: christine (#15)
boy, we're f*cked down here in texmex country
#22. To: mehitable (#19)
I'd suggest they try this tactic for at least a year and then we'll report back.
#23. To: mirage (#22)
#24. To: All (#22)
#25. To: mehitable (#23)
That just shows how many of their kids we're paying for.
#26. To: Zipporah (#0)
 | What's that Mr. Nipples? You want me to ask the nice lady about her rack?. |
#27. To: Zipporah (#0)
If a miracle occurs and I find myself with enough money, I will be the first one here to leave the united states of ameriKa. We are ruled by evil whores and we are populated by sheople afraid to rise up for fear of death at the hands of TheStateInc. It should be TheStateInc who fear, not the people.
Illegal immigrants and their supporters vowed to keep up the pressure on Congress for reforms after more than 1 million people stepped out of the shadows and poured into the streets in a nationwide show of economic clout.
#28. To: TommyTheMadArtist, all (#26)
This Immigration Reform LIE, needs to come to an abrupt end. bingo. so does the LIE that we live in a republic. we don't anymore. that would imply representation. we are NOT represented by anyone beholden to us.
Everyone who doesn't pay their taxes or file a tax return should go out in force on April 15th, demanding amnesty, and demand tax reform. Then... they all hold signs that say "We Are Not Criminals". See what that brings. I promise you, there would be massive arrests and massive incarcerations.
#29. To: christine, mirage (#14)
hilarious ! A day with immigrants? I'd like a lifetime.
#30. To: IndieTX (#27)
Stay IndieTX. This mess is global. When the time comes, we'll react accordingly. Independently at first, but hopefully active cells will follow.
#31. To: Grumble Jones (#24)
oh no, really? /sarcasm
"Of the corporate elites, by the corporate elites, for the corporate elites" - it's what America is all about. Now send your kids off to fight and die in Iraq so that corporate pigs get everything and we get nothing. What else have we ever fought for?~~Elliott J
#32. To: IndieTX (#27)
Hey I know.. I've considered expatriating.. just where to go??
f a miracle occurs and I find myself with enough money, I will be the first one here to leave the united states of ameriKa. We are ruled by evil whores and we are populated by sheople afraid to rise up for fear of death at the hands of TheStateInc. It should be TheStateInc who fear, not the people.
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
#33. To: Jethro Tull, christine (#29)
I'm a bit of an agent provacateur when given the chance. Tonite, at Home Depot, a guy turns to me and says, "So what did you think of the boycott yesterday?" And so I replied, "Didn't notice a thing. The racists can stay home forever for all I care." He said, "Racists?" My reply: "Well, the whole thing was aimed at 'gringos' or 'those racist white people' so it was racially motivated and thus, is racism. We don't need any of that in this country so as far as I am concerned, they can all leave. Besides, if they think we're so evil, why bother to come? It makes no sense. All these guys are proving is that they are so dumb they're not even worth thinking about." At that point, I left the store.
Press 1 for English. Press 2 for Deportation.
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