Immigrants step out to protect their rights (Boycott in Florida planned)

[seafan]

Immigrants step out to protect their rights

By KATHLEEN MCLAUGHLIN
March 28, 2006


Fed up with the lack of attention from politicians, Mexican business owners in the Tampa Bay region gathered one evening in Palmetto to create their own organization.
Their first action item: Cripple local economies by rallying immigrant workers to stay home from their jobs and boycott mainstream businesses for a week beginning May 1.
The idea is to show politicians debating a national immigration overhaul that although undocumented workers don't vote, they are a powerful force.

The boycott was prompted by the same proposal that sparked a 500,000-strong demonstration in Los Angeles; drew tens of thousands in Phoenix and Milwaukee last week; and on Monday, California's Cesar Chavez Day, 14,000 students marched out of Los Angeles-area schools.
Jimmy Delgado, a personal injury attorney in Palmetto, said the new group, Concilio Mexicano de Florida, the "Mexican Council of Florida," formed for one reason: "4437."
That is the number of a House bill that would make being in the United States illegally a felony and that would criminalize aiding the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants.

snip

Delgado hopes his group's May boycott will still make a strong point to legislators.
"Forty-four thirty-seven sparked it, but we should've done this earlier," he said. "We were way too docile" after the 9/11 attacks prompted crackdowns affecting a largely Latino work force, he said.
"Demonstrating is one way to get attention. This is a little more of a business approach."
The group of 75 businessmen from around Tampa Bay consider themselves leaders of the immigrant community, supporting people where government does not, Delgado said.

During the boycott, the Mexican business owners would keep their doors open. Delgado said that's so they can afford to give people free meals.
While it appears that workers will suffer the most from loss of income and jobs, Delgado said he's getting positive feedback from people who hear him pitching the boycott on local radio programs.
"These people know how to suffer," Delgado said. "They suffered through the hurricanes. They suffered crossing the border to get there. They haven't batted an eye. They're willing to do anything."

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060328/BUSINESS/603280520

[BrklynLiberal]

1. omigod. this almost sounds like a labor union creation!!!!

Can you imagine a labor union of 11 million Latinos?

bwaa-haa-haa.

Wouldn't that a be a kick in the head, if all this strategy by the Repukes ended up in creating MORE labor unions??!!!

[Tanuki]

3. It will be truly wonderful

if they can organize and utilize the power of their numbers to obtain the higher wages and decent working conditions that they deserve and that the Republicans have tried to avoid up to now.

[primavera]

11. I think that's largely why AFLCIO supports McCain/Kennedy

If aliens stream across the borders illegally and contribute to an underground economy, they become competition for unions; if those same aliens work here legally, they become members and supporters with a shared common interest.

[sadiesworld]

6. Business owners ginning up protests to protect their access

to cheap labor. Now, there's a new twist on unionization. :eyes:

[Deja Q]

2. They're only as powerful as their votes.

And I hope they wave American flags. It'd be silly to wave any other nationality as they've done all that work to BECOME Americans and wave "toodles" to their country of origin.

[FlaGranny]

10. What votes?

Illegal immigrants don't get to vote. Legal immigrants don't get to vote. Naturalization must come first before voting.

[TriMetFan]

4. All I got to say as a America Latina is that....

the RAPEplican party is going to piss off all American Latinos and we come in different colors ect..... and we are also the biggest group of people here in America. The majored of us are not here illegally and we Love our Nation. I say bring it on. I have been approached several time already here in Portland about not showing up for work. Now I do believe we need a stronger board guards in both the North and South and we do need to make it harder that if you have been caught here illegally already once you would need to do some time. But and this is a Big BUT I think that the ones that need to not only have to pay a fine but also if they are caught hiring illegals a second time they need to be shut down are any Companies that hire these people. The companies are the ones that are causing very problem for us. Not the people that come into our Nation looking for a better life. Again I say Bring It On! I'm sick of the RAPEblicans blaming every-one but themselfs for how Fucked-up our Nation is.

[flashdebadge]

7. I'm a little disappointed with these rallies.

Why are so many who attend these rallies waving Mexican flags? If they love the US and the opportunities that are available here, why not wave the American Flag. Many people who are against immigration site this as an example that the immigrants don't really care to assimilate. I must admit I'm confused an disappointed in those who wave the flag of their home country as a display of defiance to my own.

My 2 cents.

[GodlessBiker]

12. I feel the same way when I see a St. Patrick's Day parade.

"Kiss me, I'm Irish." (No, you're not, you're American.) All these Irish flags. Green everywhere. It's frustrating.

[Critters2]

14. What laws are you trying to influence at a St. Pat's Day parade?

Not the same thing at all.

[GodlessBiker]

13. repeat

[seafan]

5. Miami-Dade students plan walk out to protest House immigration bill

This movement is growing rapidly. It's time to call the corporatists out, all across our country.


Students plan walk out to protest House immigration bill

Mar. 29, 2006

Students at several Miami-Dade high schools plan to stage a walk out today to protest any immigration reform measures that would force undocumented immigrants to leave the United States and bar them from getting green cards.

The students support a Senate bill that would allow illegal immigrants to gain green cards by paying fines and also would set up a guest worker program. They oppose a House-approved bill that would, among other things, make it illegal to help undocumented immigrants -- a proposal church groups and nonprofit agencies find particularly draconian.

snip

The schools expected to have students walk out today at 2:05 p.m. are Felix Varela Senior High, Miami Coral Park Senior High, John A. Ferguson Senior High and Doral Academy Charter High School.

Among the groups supporting walkouts are Democracy for America Miami-Dade, the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Miami Dade, Veterans for Peace Miami Dade and the Progressive Democrats for America.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14214036.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

[fishnfla]

8. Super-duper bad idea

For one thing, the economy in Florida is going gangbusters. A one week boycott in early May wont do squat

For another thing, the Mexicans are only a fraction of the immigrant population here. That sound you here is the Cubans, South Americans, East Indians and a slew of others going: you want us to close while you stay open? Um no, we're not stupid, but by all means go right ahead with your boycott, we'll be here to take your jobs, and you business when you fail.
Agri-business will have problems at first perhaps, but one phone call to Fort Pierce with a 1/4 cent per hr raise and they will have all the Haitians they need on the next bus out of town, or a call down to South Florida for some South Americans, same thing.

You want to change politics in Florida? Boycott, scmoycott. Pols will yawn only. You have to form a lobbying group and out-bribe the next guy. Get in line.

[GodlessBiker]

9. I'm glad the Montgomery boycott people didn't listen to you years ago.