Mesa Latino activist calls for boycott of auto dealer over Prop. 200 support Yvonne Wingett
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 8, 2005 12:00 AM
A Mesa activist on Tuesday called for a boycott of a business owned by one of Proposition 200's key champions.
LULAC member Jon Garrido's appeal to withhold patronage of Randy Childress' auto dealership is the latest in a series of protests, boycotts and marches in response to the Nov. 2 passage of the immigration law, also supported by many Latinos.
Some of the events have drawn thousands onto city streets and the state Capitol and they have been praised as impressive symbolic public demonstrations. But they've also been sporadic and mostly ineffective at influencing public opinion about the measures, experts said.
Childress markets his auto store to the Hispanic market, but he should be financially spanked for supporting Proposition 200, said Garrido, who is also calling for General Motors Corp. to close the doors of Childress Automall at 22nd Avenue and Camelback Road.
"He says he sells to Hispanic customers, but he's the father of Proposition 200," said Garrido at a downtown Phoenix news conference. "We see the boycott as a laser-guided bomb aimed at Childress Buick. We're not going to be happy until we close the doors of Childress Buick."
"We" is Garrido, the founder and only member of a new organization, the National Hispanic Legal Defense and Education Center, which has not yet been incorporated or established with a board of directors.
Childress scoffed at Garrido's threat to boycott the family-owned dealership. He pointed out that his support of "border security" has won widespread public support for Proposition 200.
"Most people openly support me and tell me they're doing business with me because of my efforts in this area," said Childress, who helped line up money to put Proposition 200 before voters. "They're glad that someone is sticking up for the citizen taxpayer, where their politicians have not."
GM likely will not get involved, an official said. The company is in a legal contract with Childress' dealership and cannot shut him down based on his politics.
Another group led by day labor leader Salvador Reza, plans a statewide boycott on July 1. Hispanic advocate Elias Bermudez has also gathered some support in recent weeks in his quest to protest Proposition 200.