Immigration activists call for Great American Boycott 2007

One of the groups behind last years massive march in Los Angeles that drew a reported one-half million people is calling for a repeat of the last year’s boycott in support of immigrant’s rights.

Members of the March 25th Coalition, a coalition of labor unions, human rights activists, and immigrant rights groups called Monday for a national "Great American Boycott Two" on May 1, 2007.

The event is designed to raise awareness for immigrant’s rights and their contributions to the economy.

Group members said the boycott will be held to protest federal immigration raids on businesses that employ illegal immigrants and to press for "real legalization" for undocumented immigrants.

Last years boycott, fueled by anger over legislation that would have criminalized undocumented immigrants and fortified the U.S.-Mexico, temporarily shuttered businesses and schools across the country as over a million people took to the streets in Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, and other cities.

Organizers are hoping to recreate last year's success, and believe that recent events make this years boycott even more important.

According to the groups website, the boycott, "must take place in order to now put an end to the intense raids and deportations taking place around the country, and stopping the President’s push towards guest workers programs which only benefit corporations and enslave immigrant workers."

"This urgent and immediate need must be addressed as the first step towards achieving full legalization for the 12 to 20 million human beings living in the shadows and persecuted in this country while their labor and consumption is a cornerstone of this country’s economy."

"May 1 is the next necessary step towards a comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill that does not tear apart families or criminalizes the millions of people who have been forced by globalization and the so-called Free Trade agreements to leave their families, communities, country's of origin, and ways of life, to risk their lives and come here to work."

At an afternoon news conference press conference held on the steps of the downtown Los Angeles Federal Building. leaders said the raids on employers of illegal immigrants are "part of an intimidation campaign, strictly carried out in Latino residential communities and workplaces," and are "part of the nationwide `Return to Sender Operation' officially begun in June 2006 by (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents, under strict orders of the Department of Homeland Security and President Bush."

The organizers are also asking for the termination of free trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA, workers rights, and an end to border vigilantism among other things, according to the group’s website

Pointing to a protest this past Saturday in downtown Los Angeles, that drew an estimated crowd of 10,000 to 15,000 marchers, leaders believes that now that immigration legislation is once again being discussed in Washington, the time is ripe for another round of marches and boycotts.

"The massive outpouring of immigrants and allies on the streets of downtown L.A. clearly points in the direction of another successful round of mega marches to inject the immigrant community, once again, into the national debate to influence Congress" one leader said.

More information on The Great American Boycott 2007 can be found at May Day Movement, or March 25 Coalition

UPDATE: For a list of May 1st events see:
Locations of May 1st Immigration Rallies


tags: immigration, Great American Boycott 2007 , May 1, protest, March25Coalition,