Alabama Work Stoppage To Protest Anti-Immigration Laws

[lame54]

By Associated Press, Updated: Wednesday, October 12, 3:33 PM

ALBERTVILLE, Ala. — At least a half-dozen poultry plants shut down or scaled back operations Wednesday and many other businesses closed as Hispanics in Alabama skipped work to protest the state’s toughest-in-the-nation immigration law.

The work stoppage was aimed at demonstrating the economic contribution of Alabama’s Hispanic immigrants. It was unclear exactly how widespread the protests were, but a poultry company spokesman said officials were reporting unusually high absences at plants in northeast Alabama, where much of the state’s chicken industry is based.

In the northeast Alabama town of Albertville, numerous Hispanic-owned businesses along Main Street had the lights off and signs that said they wouldn’t be open. Mexican restaurants, a bank that caters to Hispanics, small grocery stores and supermarkets were all shuttered.

Jose Contreras owns a restaurant and store on Main Street. He said he was losing about $2,500 in revenue by shutting down. “We closed because we need to open the eyes of the people who are operating this state,” said Contreras, originally from the Dominican Republic and a U.S. citizen. “It’s an example of if the law pushes too much, what will happen.”...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/poultry-plants-other-businesses-affected-by-hispanic-protests-of-alabama-immigration-law/2011/10/12/gIQALlCGfL_story.html