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Link, the Hero of Time
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Joined: 15 Sep 2001
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Location: Kokori Forest, Hyrule
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 Mon May 01, 2006 4:29 pm |
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| Quote: | Immigrants Walk Off Jobs in Boycott
By GILLIAN FLACCUS
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Hundreds of thousands of mostly Hispanic immigrants skipped work and took to the streets Monday, flexing their newfound political muscle in a nationwide boycott that succeeded in slowing or shutting many farms, factories, markets and restaurants.
From Los Angeles to Chicago, New Orleans to Houston, the ``Day Without Immigrants'' attracted widespread participation despite divisions among activists over whether a boycott would send the right message to Washington lawmakers considering sweeping immigration reform.
``I want my children to know their mother is not a criminal,'' said Benita Olmedo, a nanny who came here illegally in 1986 from Mexico and pulled her 11-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son from school to march in San Diego. ``I want them to be as strong I am. This shows our strength.''
Police estimated 300,000 people marched through Chicago's business district, and hundreds of thousands more were expected at rallies in New York and Los Angeles. Smaller rallies were planned in more than 50 other cities across the nation.
In heavily Hispanic Perth Amboy, N.J., a normally bustling business district was quiet and still. Block after block of record shops, cafes and produce stores were shuttered on the usually traffic-choked street.
In the Los Angeles area, normally bustling restaurants and markets were dark and truckers avoided the nation's largest shipping port. About one in three small businesses was closed downtown, including the cluttered produce market and fashion district.
Industries that rely on immigrant workers were clearly affected, though the impact was not uniform.
Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, shuttered about a dozen of its more than 100 plants and saw ``higher-than-usual absenteeism'' at others. Most of the closures were in states such as Iowa and Nebraska. Eight of 14 Perdue Farms chicken plants also closed for the day.
Organizers of the rallies instructed protesters to wear white and bring American flags to symbolize peaceful intentions and love of the United States. Many carried signs in Spanish that translated to ``We are America'' and ``Today we march, tomorrow we vote.'' Others waved Mexican flags or wore hats and scarves from their native countries. Some chanted ``USA'' while others shouted slogans, such as ``Si se puede!,'' Spanish for ``Yes, it can be done!''
``We are the backbone of what America is, legal or illegal, it doesn't matter,'' said Melanie Lugo, who was among thousands attending a rally in Denver with her husband and their third-grade daughter.
``We butter each other's bread. They need us as much as we need them,'' she said.
The White House reacted coolly.
``The president is not a fan of boycotts,'' said press secretary Scott McClellan. ``People have the right to peacefully express their views, but the president wants to see comprehensive reform pass the Congress so that he can sign it into law.''
The boycott was organized by immigrant activists angered by federal legislation that would criminalize illegal immigrants and fortify the U.S-Mexico border. The event split the burgeoning movement, however - some advocated attending school and work but rallying after business hours.
Ernest Calderon, a 38-year-old concrete worker, came to the Chicago rally with a sign listing the names of his heroes: Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and Pancho Villa.
``Our heroes understood that they had to fight for freedom and democracy, and we are here doing the same,'' said Calderon, who came from Mexico and gained his citizenship more than a decade ago. ``We are here for the same reasons.''
None of the 175 seasonal laborers who normally work Mike Collins' 500 acres of Vidalia onion fields in southeastern Georgia showed up Monday.
``We need to be going wide open this time of year to get these onions out of the field,'' he said. ``We've got orders to fill. Losing a day in this part of the season causes a tremendous amount of problems.''
It was the same story in Indiana, where the owner of a landscaping business said he was at a loss. About 25 Hispanic workers - 90 percent of the field work force - never reported Monday to Salsbery Brothers Landscaping.
``We're basically shut down in our busiest month of the year,'' said owner Jeff Salsbery. ``It's going to cost me thousands of dollars.''
The construction and nursery industries were among the hardest hit by the work stoppage in Florida.
Bill Spann, executive vice president of the Association of General Contractors, said more than half the workers at construction sites in Miami-Dade County did not show up Monday.
``If I lose my job, it's worth it,'' said Jose Cruz, an immigrant from El Salvador who protested with several thousand others in the rural Florida city of Homestead rather than work his construction job. ``It's worth losing several jobs to get my papers.''
The impact on schools was not so clear. In Santa Ana, the Orange County seat, about 3,000 middle and high school students were absent. The 62,000-student district is about 90 percent Hispanic.
Not far away, in the normally bustling Port of Long Beach, about 30 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, was eerily quiet, with many truck drivers avoiding work. Lunch truck operator Sammy Rodriguez, 77, said 100 trucks normally line up in the mornings outside the California United Terminals. On Monday, he said, just three or four showed up.
Some of the rallies drew small numbers of counter-protesters, including one in Pensacola, Fla.
``You should send all of the 13 million aliens home, then you take all of the welfare recipients who are taking a free check and make them do those jobs,'' said Jack Culberson, a retired Army colonel who attended the Pensacola rally. ``It's as simple as that.''
Jesse Hernandez, who owns a Birmingham, Ala., company that supplies Hispanic laborers to companies around the Southeast, shut down his four-person office in solidarity with the demonstrations.
``Unfortunately,'' he said, ``human nature is that you don't really know what you have until you don``t have it.''
Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Laura Wides-Munoz in Homestead, Fla.; Janet McConnaughey in New Orleans; Jon Sarche in Denver; Alex Veiga in Long Beach, Calif.; Andrew Dalton and Christina Almeida in Los Angeles; Greg Bluestein in Atlanta; Michael Rubinkam in Allentown, Pa.; and Gregg Aamott in Minneapolis.
05/01/06 16:18 � Copyright The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0001/20060501/1618747014.htm&sc=1110&photoid=20060501GAJB101 |
And how many of them will get fired?
Most likely None. An answer which irritates me. If anyone of us did this, we'd be handed out pinkslip and told to pack up.
You know what the retaliatory action for this should be? Arrest all that marched, put them on a bus and send them back where they came from.
They can protest all the way back to the border.
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Lord Borg
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Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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| Mon May 01, 2006 4:40 pm |
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Hmmm, I agree about the firing thing, you are right there. Dunno about the rest really. People pulling kids out of school and saying this shows thier strength? pfft, wrong. Just shows that if you cant get it your way, you want it no way. there's a fair medium in here somehweres, we just gotta find it
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Mon May 01, 2006 4:57 pm |
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| Link, the Hero of Time wrote: | And how many of them will get fired?
None, if this country had any honor and integrity.
Most likely None. An answer which irritates me. If anyone of us did this, we'd be handed out pinkslip and told to pack up.
Yeah, you should be fired if you tried it. Why? Because YOU don't actually have a struggle to fight. YOU aren't going to be sent back to a corrupt nation without jobs. YOU won't be sent back to poverty, crime, and legal drugs such as heroin. YOU would skip out of work/school for what? NOTHING. So YOU deserve to be fired if you tried it.
You know what the retaliatory action for this should be? Arrest all that marched, put them on a bus and send them back where they came from.
Wow. I've lost a lot of respect for some people on this site. Good solution! Since we're degrading them, shouldn't we just line them up and kill them? Surely, that would be easier.
They can protest all the way back to the border. |
They could also riot and destroy a lot of property and lives could be lost. To some people, those lives mean something. So, this would not be one of your best..."solutions".
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Lord Borg
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Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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| Mon May 01, 2006 5:02 pm |
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^You have a point Andy. They could have been VERY violent about this, and wern't. But trying to hurt this country because something isn't going right is also in the wrong. I hope we can find a fair solution to this...
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Mon May 01, 2006 5:19 pm |
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| Lord Borg wrote: | | ^You have a point Andy. They could have been VERY violent about this, and wern't. But trying to hurt this country because something isn't going right is also in the wrong. I hope we can find a fair solution to this... |
I understand people being angry about hte boycott, but they weren't doing it to hurt the country. They obviously LOVE this country if they want to stay so badly. They did it to make their voices recognizable. To show they feel that this is wrong. Gandhi and many other Indians did a boycott to protess the British. African Americans did it as well during the 60s. Both people weren't trying to hurt the nation. They were simply trying to show that something must be done.
Besides the brilliant solutions of some people....rounding them up like their animals and throwing them out is not acceptable. 
I do agree that a fair solution needs to be made. A compromise does need to be attained. SOME of these people did not come here legally and should not be rewarded for it.
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Lord Borg
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Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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| Mon May 01, 2006 5:22 pm |
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Hmmmmn, yes, that makes sense. It would help if it wasnt so hard to get here legally. Your right if you came here legally, you shouldn't be rewarded, but on the other hand, "Aressting them all and shiping them back" is probably not the best idea either...
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Mon May 01, 2006 6:30 pm |
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Here ye, here ye, here ye! Mark this day in history!
Link, the Hero of Time takes a conservative stance on an issue!
Here ye, here ye, here ye! Mark this day in history!
Republican_Man agrees with Link, the Hero of Time!
Well, to an extent, at least. Should they all be deported? Not necessarily, unless the government resolves to stick only with domestic stuff and not secure our borders. Then I�m not so sure.
Should they all be arrested for protesting and whatnot? No. But should they be fired? Not necessarily. They should get the exact same treatment that any normal worker gets--namely, pay cuts and the like. No special treatment in either regard (positive or negative), but just normal punishment.
Next, Founder, I disagree with you that they love this country. I'm more inclined to agree with Savage on this. They aren't doing this because they love this country. They're doing this because they want to get something that those who are here illegally honestly don�t deserve�citizenship and full-fledged American rights.
He called today a �Communist day� or something like that. Perhaps LB remembers the name, �cause, despite the fact that I�m listening to him right now, I can�t quite remember it. Don�t agree with that, but I do agree with his basic intent--that what these protestors are doing isn�t a good thing, but rather a bad thing, especially the encouragement of a national �Skip School Day,� which is, for all intents and purposes, what they are doing.
I�m still furious at these people, but at least it didn�t affect me, and it�s not as big of a thing as everyone anticipated, from what I gather. Shows you which people really do want to work. Perhaps we should even say that, once GWP time is afoot, that only those who weren�t protesting on this day and were actually working and going to school ( ) should get the program and the rest should be deported  j/k
But seriously, what they�re doing is wrong, plain and simple. And it is not to show their �love for the country.� That much is clear.
Anyways, here�s the compromise we should reach which gets the best of both worlds, because that�s what I really want:
Shut down the border first and punish businesses that hire illegals. There, you make the majority of conservatives happy.
Improve the legal immigration system, doing the things I said before, and, after securing the border, open up a guest worker program for those already here. There, you make the majority of liberals happy.
Work with Mexico to improve their economy and security situation (i.e. drug cartels and corruption). There, you make everyone happy and the Mexican people better as a whole.
That�s the compromise that should be worked out, and it clearly gets the best of both worlds. I mean, I�m glad we have these immigrants here. Heck, who knows? The people who clean my school might even be illegal, but I�m glad they�re here, just as I�m glad that today they didn�t boycott their job. I appreciate the work they do for us--I really do--and I want them to have a better life--I really do--but we have to realize that what they did was break our laws, and to reward them in a manner that encourages further migration to our state by unlawful means? Not a good thing. We have to be careful in what we do, especially when giving in to the demands of a group of people that shouldn't even be here in the first place.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Founder
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Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Mon May 01, 2006 6:44 pm |
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| Republican_Man wrote: | Next, Founder, I disagree with you that they love this country. I'm more inclined to agree with Savage on this. They aren't doing this because they love this country. They're doing this because they want to get something that those who are here illegally honestly don�t deserve�citizenship and full-fledged American rights.
He called today a �Communist day� or something like that. Perhaps LB remembers the name, �cause, despite the fact that I�m listening to him right now, I can�t quite remember it. Don�t agree with that, but I do agree with his basic intent--that what these protestors are doing isn�t a good thing, but rather a bad thing, especially the encouragement of a national �Skip School Day,� which is, for all intents and purposes, what they are doing.
I�m still furious at these people, but at least it didn�t affect me, and it�s not as big of a thing as everyone anticipated, from what I gather. Shows you which people really do want to work. Perhaps we should even say that, once GWP time is afoot, that only those who weren�t protesting on this day and were actually working and going to school () should get the program and the rest should be deported j/k
But seriously, what they�re doing is wrong, plain and simple. And it is not to show their �love for the country.� That much is clear.
Uh hello? If you didn't love this country, then why would you want to become a citizen here? You made absolutely NO sense.
Savage called today communist day? Why? Because Hispanics are doing it? What an idiot.
Who cares if they want to skip ONE day in school? I think the people that are acting so shocked and horrified about skipping school are being ridiculous. School systems and education will not collapse because you skip one day. Hell, I skipped several a year during high school with friends of various nationalities. It didn't affect anything. I still wish to become a lawyer.
What they're doing is wrong? Plain and simple? Do me a favor. Don't deal in such ridiculous absolutes. It embarrasses MY party. I'd like to think that Republicans had more sense in saying things like that.
Yes it IS to show their love of this country. You have yet to prove otherwise. If they hated America so much as you and Savage claim, then they would gladly be deported on American tax dollars.
Anyways, here�s the compromise we should reach which gets the best of both worlds, because that�s what I really want:
Shut down the border first and punish businesses that hire illegals. There, you make the majority of conservatives happy.
Improve the legal immigration system, doing the things I said before, and, after securing the border, open up a guest worker program for those already here. There, you make the majority of liberals happy.
Work with Mexico to improve their economy and security situation (i.e. drug cartels and corruption). There, you make everyone happy and the Mexican people better as a whole.
Really? Sounds good. I've seen many people talk about this, but do nothing. Get to work on it then.
That�s the compromise that should be worked out, and it clearly gets the best of both worlds. I mean, I�m glad we have these immigrants here. Heck, who knows? The people who clean my school might even be illegal, but I�m glad they�re here, just as I�m glad that today they didn�t boycott their job. I appreciate the work they do for us--I really do--and I want them to have a better life--I really do--but we have to realize that what they did was break our laws, and to reward them in a manner that encourages further migration to our state by unlawful means? Not a good thing. We have to be careful in what we do, especially when giving in to the demands of a group of people that shouldn't even be here in the first place. |
They shouldn't be here in the first place? If I was Native American, I think I would throttle you right now. By your standards, YOU shouldn't be here in the first place either.
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Lord Borg
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Joined: 27 May 2003
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| Mon May 01, 2006 6:56 pm |
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Savage wants the hospitals closed off from illegals, I think thats sick
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Mon May 01, 2006 7:04 pm |
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| Republican_Man wrote: | | I�m still furious at these people, but at least it didn�t affect me, and it�s not as big of a thing as everyone anticipated, from what I gather. Shows you which people really do want to work. |
Wrong....
| Quote: | Full Coverage: Immigration
AP - Mon May 1, 4:32 PM ET
Illegal immigrants made their point Monday: Without them, Americans would pay higher prices and a lot of work wouldn't get done. As nationwide demonstrations thinned the work force in businesses from meat-packing plants to construction sites to behind the counter at McDonald's, economists said there can be no dispute within the context of the contentious immigration issue that the group wields significant clout in the U.S. economy. |
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fc/US/Immigration
You see what will happen if we deport them all? GOOD solution. Why don't we just do away with our economy while you're at it. You know, for people who claim they arer true American patriots, you guys sure are willing to let our beautiful country become seriously hurt from all this.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Mon May 01, 2006 7:45 pm |
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Hmm. A piece-by-piece debate with you? That's one rare of a thing
| Quote: | | Uh hello? If you didn't love this country, then why would you want to become a citizen here? You made absolutely NO sense. |
Well, that is a good point, but what I'm saying is they're not doing it in their love for this country, but they're doing it because they want the rights and freedoms that we have to offer so that they can make a better life for themselves. Now, I understand that that's a good motivation (for those illegals doing it) and I understand it, but I was making that point to argue you saying that they're doing it because they love this country, when in fact they are merely marching, yes to take advantage of the great things our country has to offer, but to get full rights when they, or people they are supporting, broke our laws, and that's what my point was and that's why I made it.
| Quote: | | Savage called today communist day? Why? Because Hispanics are doing it? What an idiot. |
Didn't say I agree with him, but there's more to it than just that, so don't rush to judgments when I said I couldn't really sum it up well 
I think he called it a Communist Holiday, though, but again, I can't sum it up well enough to say exactly what he means.
| Quote: | | Who cares if they want to skip ONE day in school? I think the people that are acting so shocked and horrified about skipping school are being ridiculous. School systems and education will not collapse because you skip one day. Hell, I skipped several a year during high school with friends of various nationalities. It didn't affect anything. I still wish to become a lawyer. |
Andy, you're missing my point. I'm not irritated that kids are merely skipping school--I know kids that do that all the time--nor am I angry at them for using their right to free speech in these protests. Heck, I skipped school not only to see Episode III 3 more times, but I skipped on Election Day '04 to make sure that the vote got out.
What I am angry at is the encouragement by the organizers of this so-called "boycott" for kids to skip school. They demean the education system in a manner that is just sickening and wrong, IMO. NEVER should you discourage kids to go to school and LITERALLY say "Don't go to school." And believe me, that IS what they're doing. One of the chief organizers of this day was even interviewed on H&C SAYING that. And you know what? Even Allan Colmes (you know, the liberal guy there?) thought that that single aspect was just wrong, and he agrees with the rest of it.
You're disturbed by some of the things I'm saying? Well, that goes right back at you, my friend (not to be hostile or anything... )
| Quote: | | What they're doing is wrong? Plain and simple? Do me a favor. Don't deal in such ridiculous absolutes. It embarrasses MY party. I'd like to think that Republicans had more sense in saying things like that. |
Huh? I fail to see how the encouragement of skipping school in protest for illegals to get full citizenship rights and against tough action on illegal immigration makes the Republican party embarrassed?
| Quote: | | Yes it IS to show their love of this country. You have yet to prove otherwise. If they hated America so much as you and Savage claim, then they would gladly be deported on American tax dollars. |
I already argued against that, and if you listen to the words of many of these protestors (not all) you'd see my point. A lot of the things they've been doing at these protest rallies is just wrong, such as purchasing American flags at the scene for the event and then throwing them away afterwards. (Btw, that's an example of them not doing this for loving this country.)
And not necessarily, mind you. Just because they're protesting doesn't mean they love this country. It only means that they're fighting for illegal immigrant rights, nothing more. Just because people are fighting to get full advantage of what America has to offer, after breaking our laws to get here, doesn't mean they love our country.
Besides. If they did love America in the first place, then why would they break our laws? Not something I would do to a country I love...
I do apologize, however, for some of the absolutes. Mind you, I don't mean that this applies to everyone. For instance, the woman I talked about who closed down her shop today and offered for her daughter to skip school today wanted to do it because she felt for the immigrants, nothing more.
I feel for them as well, but I wouldn't be doing this.
However, O'Reilly just made a good point a minute ago. Our anger shouldn't be focused on the protesters, but it should be focused on both the Mexican and American governments for their failures to deal with this issue. I have to agree with him, though not entirely.
I do think that some anger is definitely worth towards the protestors, and that much lies on the businesses that hire illegals before Americans due to their cheap labor costs.
So maybe I�ve been going a little over the edge since the racist comment in terms of anger directed at the protestors. Yes, they deserve it, and yes, I�m mad at them (well, the majority, not many, however, like stated), but not so much should be directed towards them. What I�m especially mad at, though, in terms of the protestors is their encouragement of skipping school for this--and not just kids doing it, but blatant encouragement and all that. That�s not right.
| Quote: | | Really? Sounds good. I've seen many people talk about this, but do nothing. Get to work on it then. |
Oh, yes, I wish they would. But�cha know, politics has to get in the way. Politics always has to get in the way of necessary change. The politicians in Washington are the people that are sickening. All they�re doing is either pandering to voters or pandering to businesses and not getting anything done. I�m just tired of it.
| Quote: | | They shouldn't be here in the first place? If I was Native American, I think I would throttle you right now. By your standards, YOU shouldn't be here in the first place either. |
Next you're going to be agreeing with those people who say "take back New Mexico 'cause they stole it from us," right? () That's where it sounds like you're going. That's what they say. Shouldn't we just let them come now, then?
No, no, guess what? By my standards we SHOULD be here. Granted different tribes had different immigration policy-like things, but was there any solid entity on this land that everyone knew about and the immigration policies were clear? No.
We are a sovereign state with LAWS dealing with illegal immigration. That argument is just entirely off-base because it just doesn't fit with the historical context of what you are saying.
Two quotes just now tonight:
�This is about illegal aliens wanting�demanding�something from our government that our government doesn�t have the obligation to survive�It�s not an immigrants� right issue!�
�For illegal aliens to demand rights in a country they have no right to be in is crazy.�
- Bill O�Reilly
I happen to agree with him entirely. He is entirely right, and he agrees with me: secure our borders and then deal with the people here now.
| Lord Borg wrote: | | Savage wants the hospitals closed off from illegals, I think thats sick |
I do agree with that, LB. That is a sick thing. Emergency medical care is important for all human beings.
Just as well, with the stupid laws mandating that every child--legal or illegal--deserves public education, if we don�t allow them medical coverage then it will hurt us, because they�ll bring in diseases that will spread to our children and hurt us in the long-run. Certain amounts of medical coverage is absolutely necessary.
Founder, you do make a good point with regards to the deportation, and I agree. It would be far from advantageous for us to deport them all. Not to mention it would be impossible and improbable to do so. We shouldn�t do that, for sure. It would just be impossible and would have adverse effects for us, though I don�t think it would be as bad as people are saying, because there are MILLIONS of people around the world just waiting to come to this country that can fill that jobs.
But again, I do recognize the adverse effects that would result from such an action, and agree with you.
Another brilliant O�Reilly quote: �You see, I don�t have anything against anyone trying to do better for his family�If I were a poor Mexican I�d be coming here too. But I wouldn�t be demanding any rights, and I wouldn�t be here out carrying a Mexican flag, even if I was Mexican, because that�s an insult to what the country stands for, but we�re not getting any good leadership from the Republican president on this issue, are we?�
Laura Ingraham�s response: �The Republican President�is much more in-tune with the people at the protests today than he is in-tune with his own party, and certainly with the vast majority of Republicans and, frankly, working class Democrats, who�ve made their views clear. Your �cable competitor,� if I can call it that, actually had a poll today that said--asked the question, �Should people at these rallies be arrested?� which is a ridiculous question, and they thought the numbers would go in their favor on that. Well, even on the MSNBC poll, as of this afternoon, it was like 62% of Americans thought that illegals at the rally should be arrested. That�s pretty draconian.�
O�Reilly: �Well, that�s a little misleading. They only have 10 viewers, so�� 
He closed the segment by stating something else right on the ball, which you would agree with: �I just hope that people do direct their ire toward the Federal Government here and the Mexican government. These are the villains. The immigrants themselves, well, they�re just trying to get a better life, and I understand.�
Ingraham replied: �Well, we can�t expect them to respect our laws if our politicians don�t respect our laws.�
O�Reilly: �Absolutely, but we all have to obey �em.�
O'Reilly is right-on, even more right-on then Savage, who's somewhat extreme, for sure.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Mon May 01, 2006 9:26 pm |
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| Link, the Hero of Time wrote: | Immigrants Walk Off Jobs in Boycott
By GILLIAN FLACCUS
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Hundreds of thousands of mostly Hispanic immigrants skipped work and took to the streets Monday, flexing their newfound political muscle in a nationwide boycott that succeeded in slowing or shutting many farms, factories, markets and restaurants.
From Los Angeles to Chicago, New Orleans to Houston, the ``Day Without Immigrants'' attracted widespread participation despite divisions among activists over whether a boycott would send the right message to Washington lawmakers considering sweeping immigration reform.
``I want my children to know their mother is not a criminal,'' said Benita Olmedo, a nanny who came here illegally in 1986 from Mexico and pulled her 11-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son from school to march in San Diego. ``I want them to be as strong I am. This shows our strength.''
Police estimated 300,000 people marched through Chicago's business district, and hundreds of thousands more were expected at rallies in New York and Los Angeles. Smaller rallies were planned in more than 50 other cities across the nation.
In heavily Hispanic Perth Amboy, N.J., a normally bustling business district was quiet and still. Block after block of record shops, cafes and produce stores were shuttered on the usually traffic-choked street.
In the Los Angeles area, normally bustling restaurants and markets were dark and truckers avoided the nation's largest shipping port. About one in three small businesses was closed downtown, including the cluttered produce market and fashion district.
Industries that rely on immigrant workers were clearly affected, though the impact was not uniform.
Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, shuttered about a dozen of its more than 100 plants and saw ``higher-than-usual absenteeism'' at others. Most of the closures were in states such as Iowa and Nebraska. Eight of 14 Perdue Farms chicken plants also closed for the day.
Organizers of the rallies instructed protesters to wear white and bring American flags to symbolize peaceful intentions and love of the United States. Many carried signs in Spanish that translated to ``We are America'' and ``Today we march, tomorrow we vote.'' Others waved Mexican flags or wore hats and scarves from their native countries. Some chanted ``USA'' while others shouted slogans, such as ``Si se puede!,'' Spanish for ``Yes, it can be done!''
``We are the backbone of what America is, legal or illegal, it doesn't matter,'' said Melanie Lugo, who was among thousands attending a rally in Denver with her husband and their third-grade daughter.
``We butter each other's bread. They need us as much as we need them,'' she said.
The White House reacted coolly.
``The president is not a fan of boycotts,'' said press secretary Scott McClellan. ``People have the right to peacefully express their views, but the president wants to see comprehensive reform pass the Congress so that he can sign it into law.''
The boycott was organized by immigrant activists angered by federal legislation that would criminalize illegal immigrants and fortify the U.S-Mexico border. The event split the burgeoning movement, however - some advocated attending school and work but rallying after business hours.
Ernest Calderon, a 38-year-old concrete worker, came to the Chicago rally with a sign listing the names of his heroes: Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and Pancho Villa.
``Our heroes understood that they had to fight for freedom and democracy, and we are here doing the same,'' said Calderon, who came from Mexico and gained his citizenship more than a decade ago. ``We are here for the same reasons.''
None of the 175 seasonal laborers who normally work Mike Collins' 500 acres of Vidalia onion fields in southeastern Georgia showed up Monday.
``We need to be going wide open this time of year to get these onions out of the field,'' he said. ``We've got orders to fill. Losing a day in this part of the season causes a tremendous amount of problems.''
It was the same story in Indiana, where the owner of a landscaping business said he was at a loss. About 25 Hispanic workers - 90 percent of the field work force - never reported Monday to Salsbery Brothers Landscaping.
``We're basically shut down in our busiest month of the year,'' said owner Jeff Salsbery. ``It's going to cost me thousands of dollars.''
The construction and nursery industries were among the hardest hit by the work stoppage in Florida.
Bill Spann, executive vice president of the Association of General Contractors, said more than half the workers at construction sites in Miami-Dade County did not show up Monday.
``If I lose my job, it's worth it,'' said Jose Cruz, an immigrant from El Salvador who protested with several thousand others in the rural Florida city of Homestead rather than work his construction job. ``It's worth losing several jobs to get my papers.''
The impact on schools was not so clear. In Santa Ana, the Orange County seat, about 3,000 middle and high school students were absent. The 62,000-student district is about 90 percent Hispanic.
Not far away, in the normally bustling Port of Long Beach, about 30 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, was eerily quiet, with many truck drivers avoiding work. Lunch truck operator Sammy Rodriguez, 77, said 100 trucks normally line up in the mornings outside the California United Terminals. On Monday, he said, just three or four showed up.
Some of the rallies drew small numbers of counter-protesters, including one in Pensacola, Fla.
``You should send all of the 13 million aliens home, then you take all of the welfare recipients who are taking a free check and make them do those jobs,'' said Jack Culberson, a retired Army colonel who attended the Pensacola rally. ``It's as simple as that.''
Jesse Hernandez, who owns a Birmingham, Ala., company that supplies Hispanic laborers to companies around the Southeast, shut down his four-person office in solidarity with the demonstrations.
``Unfortunately,'' he said, ``human nature is that you don't really know what you have until you don``t have it.''
Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Laura Wides-Munoz in Homestead, Fla.; Janet McConnaughey in New Orleans; Jon Sarche in Denver; Alex Veiga in Long Beach, Calif.; Andrew Dalton and Christina Almeida in Los Angeles; Greg Bluestein in Atlanta; Michael Rubinkam in Allentown, Pa.; and Gregg Aamott in Minneapolis.
05/01/06 16:18 � Copyright The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0001/20060501/1618747014.htm&sc=1110&photoid=20060501GAJB101 |
?
You perform an illegal act, no matter what the reason, you are a criminal. There may be mitigating circumstances, but still...
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Republican_Man
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| Mon May 01, 2006 9:32 pm |
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I remember recently hearing an argument that what the Mexican illegals are doing is like what Cuban refugees are doing, and I think even Andy can agree (especially Andy) that there is a profound difference between the two.
One is escaping tyrrany, leaving due to what is called "forced migration," while the illegal aliens coming from Mexico are coming for economic reasons, what is called "voluntary migration." Huge difference. One group is a criminal, the other is a refugee.
Right on there, Theresa.
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Theresa
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| Mon May 01, 2006 9:42 pm |
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Yeah, I have no problem whatsoever with political refugees fleeing here, people who's lives are/may be in danger, etc... These are the types of people we need to be helping. But like you said, border jumpers are simply in a different category.
Here in Maine, there isn't much affected by illegals for much of the year, until blueberry harvest. Then it gets bad. These guys will work for next to nothing, which would be fine, were it not illegal for these companies to hire US citizens at these same wages. I had many friends who used to go pick, but now there are no jobs for them. Situations like this basically piss me off.
So, as ill informed as this yank is, yeah,
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Founder
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| Mon May 01, 2006 9:46 pm |
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| Republican_Man wrote: | Well, that is a good point, but what I'm saying is they're not doing it in their love for this country, but they're doing it because they want the rights and freedoms that we have to offer so that they can make a better life for themselves. Now, I understand that that's a good motivation (for those illegals doing it) and I understand it, but I was making that point to argue you saying that they're doing it because they love this country, when in fact they are merely marching, yes to take advantage of the great things our country has to offer, but to get full rights when they, or people they are supporting, broke our laws, and that's what my point was and that's why I made it.
It doesn't matter. It doesn't change the fact that they do love this country. They aren't here to leech off of our rights and freedoms. You can aruge that virtually every immigrant, legal or not, come here for the very reasons you just said.
Didn't say I agree with him, but there's more to it than just that, so don't rush to judgments when I said I couldn't really sum it up well
I think he called it a Communist Holiday, though, but again, I can't sum it up well enough to say exactly what he means.
It still makes no sense...
Andy, you're missing my point. I'm not irritated that kids are merely skipping school--I know kids that do that all the time--nor am I angry at them for using their right to free speech in these protests. Heck, I skipped school not only to see Episode III 3 more times, but I skipped on Election Day '04 to make sure that the vote got out.
What I am angry at is the encouragement by the organizers of this so-called "boycott" for kids to skip school. They demean the education system in a manner that is just sickening and wrong, IMO. NEVER should you discourage kids to go to school and LITERALLY say "Don't go to school." And believe me, that IS what they're doing. One of the chief organizers of this day was even interviewed on H&C SAYING that. And you know what? Even Allan Colmes (you know, the liberal guy there?) thought that that single aspect was just wrong, and he agrees with the rest of it.
You're disturbed by some of the things I'm saying? Well, that goes right back at you, my friend (not to be hostile or anything... )
You called me Andy!? Shocking, you never do.
It isn't demeaning the education system perse. This isn't about a complaint towards education, nor is it about encouraging kids to drop out of school or whatever. They were simply BOYCOTTING.
Although, I will agree that maybe dragging thier kids into this was not the best idea, but not as bad as you and others are making it out to be. Maybe if it was months or weeks, but one day? NOPE.
Huh? I fail to see how the encouragement of skipping school in protest for illegals to get full citizenship rights and against tough action on illegal immigration makes the Republican party embarrassed?
No. What embarrasses the Republican party is that you are claiming everything is so black and white. What they're doing is "wrong, plain and simple". No. This topic most certaintly is NOT plain and simple.
I already argued against that, and if you listen to the words of many of these protestors (not all) you'd see my point. A lot of the things they've been doing at these protest rallies is just wrong, such as purchasing American flags at the scene for the event and then throwing them away afterwards. (Btw, that's an example of them not doing this for loving this country.)
That is obviously a rarity as it is virtually unheard of. I do think that, doing that is wrong though. We should treat the flag with respect. But most certainly, not an example of them hating this country.
And not necessarily, mind you. Just because they're protesting doesn't mean they love this country. It only means that they're fighting for illegal immigrant rights, nothing more. Just because people are fighting to get full advantage of what America has to offer, after breaking our laws to get here, doesn't mean they love our country.
Besides. If they did love America in the first place, then why would they break our laws? Not something I would do to a country I love...
Yes it does mean they love this country. There is a reason they are fighting to stay here. They would rather live out their days here and their children's lives here, instead of their country. Why? Because it is a better life. You're making it sound crazy that people would want to live here for our good laws and such. As I said, your accusations could be made about virtually any immigrant. So its ok to "take advantage" of America if you come here legally?
I do apologize, however, for some of the absolutes. Mind you, I don't mean that this applies to everyone. For instance, the woman I talked about who closed down her shop today and offered for her daughter to skip school today wanted to do it because she felt for the immigrants, nothing more.
I feel for them as well, but I wouldn't be doing this.
Ok, I can understand that.
However, O'Reilly just made a good point a minute ago. Our anger shouldn't be focused on the protesters, but it should be focused on both the Mexican and American governments for their failures to deal with this issue. I have to agree with him, though not entirely.
I agree with him completely.
I do think that some anger is definitely worth towards the protestors, and that much lies on the businesses that hire illegals before Americans due to their cheap labor costs.
So maybe I�ve been going a little over the edge since the racist comment in terms of anger directed at the protestors. Yes, they deserve it, and yes, I�m mad at them (well, the majority, not many, however, like stated), but not so much should be directed towards them. What I�m especially mad at, though, in terms of the protestors is their encouragement of skipping school for this--and not just kids doing it, but blatant encouragement and all that. That�s not right.
Not right to you, but you wouldn't be singing that same tune if it was you in their place.
Oh, yes, I wish they would. But�cha know, politics has to get in the way. Politics always has to get in the way of necessary change. The politicians in Washington are the people that are sickening. All they�re doing is either pandering to voters or pandering to businesses and not getting anything done. I�m just tired of it.
Agreed.
Next you're going to be agreeing with those people who say "take back New Mexico 'cause they stole it from us," right? () That's where it sounds like you're going. That's what they say. Shouldn't we just let them come now, then?
No, I'm not going to be saying that actually.
No, no, guess what? By my standards we SHOULD be here. Granted different tribes had different immigration policy-like things, but was there any solid entity on this land that everyone knew about and the immigration policies were clear? No.
We are a sovereign state with LAWS dealing with illegal immigration. That argument is just entirely off-base because it just doesn't fit with the historical context of what you are saying.
Ah I see. So since the Native Americans were not unified and had no way of repelling the foreigners, it was all fair game. Its bad enough we stole the land, but did we have to commit genocide as well?
Two quotes just now tonight:
�This is about illegal aliens wanting�demanding�something from our government that our government doesn�t have the obligation to survive�It�s not an immigrants� right issue!�
�For illegal aliens to demand rights in a country they have no right to be in is crazy.�
- Bill O�Reilly
I happen to agree with him entirely. He is entirely right, and he agrees with me: secure our borders and then deal with the people here now.
Somewhat...
Founder, you do make a good point with regards to the deportation, and I agree. It would be far from advantageous for us to deport them all. Not to mention it would be impossible and improbable to do so. We shouldn�t do that, for sure. It would just be impossible and would have adverse effects for us, though I don�t think it would be as bad as people are saying, because there are MILLIONS of people around the world just waiting to come to this country that can fill that jobs.
But again, I do recognize the adverse effects that would result from such an action, and agree with you.
Yeah, bad repurcussions. I also doubt those "MILLIONS" could replace that work force lost so quickly.
Another brilliant O�Reilly quote: �You see, I don�t have anything against anyone trying to do better for his family�If I were a poor Mexican I�d be coming here too. But I wouldn�t be demanding any rights, and I wouldn�t be here out carrying a Mexican flag, even if I was Mexican, because that�s an insult to what the country stands for, but we�re not getting any good leadership from the Republican president on this issue, are we?�
Laura Ingraham�s response: �The Republican President�is much more in-tune with the people at the protests today than he is in-tune with his own party, and certainly with the vast majority of Republicans and, frankly, working class Democrats, who�ve made their views clear. Your �cable competitor,� if I can call it that, actually had a poll today that said--asked the question, �Should people at these rallies be arrested?� which is a ridiculous question, and they thought the numbers would go in their favor on that. Well, even on the MSNBC poll, as of this afternoon, it was like 62% of Americans thought that illegals at the rally should be arrested. That�s pretty draconian.�
O�Reilly: �Well, that�s a little misleading. They only have 10 viewers, so��
He closed the segment by stating something else right on the ball, which you would agree with: �I just hope that people do direct their ire toward the Federal Government here and the Mexican government. These are the villains. The immigrants themselves, well, they�re just trying to get a better life, and I understand.�
Ingraham replied: �Well, we can�t expect them to respect our laws if our politicians don�t respect our laws.�
O�Reilly: �Absolutely, but we all have to obey �em.�
O'Reilly is right-on, even more right-on then Savage, who's somewhat extreme, for sure. |
They are demanding rights because the American governement wants to deport them all. They weren't demanding rights before all of this. Before all of this they working in crappy places for crappy pay. You all, Dem. and Repub., should have left well enough alone. Securing the border? Fine. Terrorizing the illegals here? Not so good. Look what it is getting us...
| Theresa wrote: | | You perform an illegal act, no matter what the reason, you are a criminal. There may be mitigating circumstances, but still... |
So she is a criminal for wanting to come to America so her children didn't have to be raised an crappy commie country?  Interesting....
Yes, RM I vaguely agree about that, but not completely. I don't think all of the Mexican "border jumpers" are "criminals" as you so black and whitely put it.
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Theresa
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| Mon May 01, 2006 9:51 pm |
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She performed an illegal act. Even if you steal medicine to save a dying child, it's still illegal, and you are still a criminal. I made no mention of whether or not she was right or wrong.
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| Mon May 01, 2006 9:52 pm |
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| Theresa wrote: | | She performed an illegal act. Even if you steal medicine to save a dying child, it's still illegal, and you are still a criminal. I made no mention of whether or not she was right or wrong. |
Hhmm interesting. I can understand why you think that though. I guess it differs with people you know? If I saw a person do that for a dying child, I'm not sure if I would call them a criminal. But legally, you would be correct.
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Republican_Man
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| Mon May 01, 2006 9:53 pm |
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While I take a break for studying for my AP Computer Science A test that I have tomorrow morning to respond in length, could you please tell me what people who break laws are, then, if they're not illegal? I mean, last I checked, we're a nation of laws, and one of those laws involves immigration, and when those laws are broken, doesn't it make the person a criminal?
Webster's dictionary defines "criminal" as
1 : relating to, involving, or being a crime
2 : relating to crime or to the prosecution of suspects in a crime
3 : guilty of crime; also : of or befitting a criminal
We have immigration laws, and those who break them are committing a crime. Doesn't that make them, by inherent definition, criminal?
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Founder
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| Mon May 01, 2006 9:56 pm |
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Oh I see. So they're a criminal once they enter this country illegally? Not before? Cause you seem to be implying they are.
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Republican_Man
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| Mon May 01, 2006 9:59 pm |
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Huh? Well, being in this country illegally isn't a fellony, but entering this country illegally is a crime, which is my point. Not that they're criminals beforehand, but that they committed a crime by illegally entering our country. And fact is, that's what they did.
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Lord Borg
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| Mon May 01, 2006 10:00 pm |
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The "Law" defination states they ARE once they illegaly enter this country, as T said about the medicen Example. It's still a crime, whether its right, or wrong. I also noticed she never said that this woman was right or wrong
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Founder
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| Mon May 01, 2006 10:08 pm |
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I never said what T said. I was simply trying to clarify from T and RM WHY they are criminals.
I guess we could say the heroes throughout history are criminals as well? Gandhi did break the law by producing his own salt. So, he is a criminal?
Our founding fathers did rebel against the British. Back in England, we were probably nothing but rebel criminals to them. So they're criminals as well?
If that is the case, then being a criminal isn't always bad it seems.
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Lord Borg
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| Mon May 01, 2006 10:11 pm |
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| Founder wrote: | I never said what T said. I was simply trying to clarify from T and RM WHY they are criminals.
I guess we could say the heroes throughout history are criminals as well? Gandhi did break the law by producing his own salt. So, he is a criminal?
Our founding fathers did rebel against the British. Back in England, we were probably nothing but rebel criminals to them. So they're criminals as well?
If that is the case, then being a criminal isn't always bad it seems. |
By what you said? Sure, but the law still looks at them as Criminals. Her situation may have called for coming here illegaly, we don't know for sure. However, if it could be easier to come here legaly, then no one would be called "criminal"
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Founder
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| Mon May 01, 2006 10:17 pm |
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Yeah but it isn't easy to come here. That is the problem.
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Republican_Man
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| Mon May 01, 2006 10:17 pm |
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| Quote: | | It doesn't matter. It doesn't change the fact that they do love this country. They aren't here to leech off of our rights and freedoms. You can aruge that virtually every immigrant, legal or not, come here for the very reasons you just said. |
See, while I would agree that many do love our country, I disagree with you due to the fact that many don't give a damn about what they think of our country. They know it's better than where they live now or lived before and will give them more opportunities, so they jump to come here. But does that mean that they love the country? No, it just means that they're coming to make a better life for themselves--a worthy goal, but it doesn't mean that they love the country, especially when you have people going around claiming they want to be acculturated into America and yet go around singing the National Anthem in Spanish.
Now, mind you, I enjoyed hearing the National Anthem sung in Spanish, as I've enjoyed the language all my life and find it fascinating, but at a rally, where you're trying to say that you want to be an American, you're singing the National Anthem in Spanish? Come on. That's disrespectful in my book.
| Quote: | It isn't demeaning the education system perse. This isn't about a complaint towards education, nor is it about encouraging kids to drop out of school or whatever. They were simply BOYCOTTING.
Although, I will agree that maybe dragging thier kids into this was not the best idea, but not as bad as you and others are making it out to be. Maybe if it was months or weeks, but one day? NOPE. |
Interesting. In my mind, skipping school for a day because a whole organization of people is telling you to, or encouraging you to, is just plain wrong. It doesn't matter if it's a day, a week, a month, or a year. I don't care. It just shows me how little they care about education.
| Quote: | | No. What embarrasses the Republican party is that you are claiming everything is so black and white. What they're doing is "wrong, plain and simple". No. This topic most certaintly is NOT plain and simple. |
Actually, if you pay closer attention to what I've been saying, I don't think of this issue in a black and white context
| Quote: | | That is obviously a rarity as it is virtually unheard of. I do think that, doing that is wrong though. We should treat the flag with respect. But most certainly, not an example of them hating this country. |
No, you're right that it's not an example of most of them hating America, but it is an example of the PR image many of them care about emitting--and that's it.
| Quote: | | Yes it does mean they love this country. There is a reason they are fighting to stay here. They would rather live out their days here and their children's lives here, instead of their country. Why? Because it is a better life. You're making it sound crazy that people would want to live here for our good laws and such. As I said, your accusations could be made about virtually any immigrant. So its ok to "take advantage" of America if you come here legally? |
Because they want a better life, not because they love the country. They know it's better, but they don't necessarily love it. I don't want to say that they're moving here for their own selfish desires, because they're NOT, but in a sense they are in terms of them coming to this country illegally for better opportunities for themselves, yet not to make America better or because they love this country, but because they want it better for themselves. And I don't blame them for that. This is a great country. (And let me clarify once again that I don't believe they're selfish.)
| Quote: | | Not right to you, but you wouldn't be singing that same tune if it was you in their place. |
Hey, I'm in O'Reilly's boat. Did you read where he said, �You see, I don�t have anything against anyone trying to do better for his family�If I were a poor Mexican I�d be coming here too. But I wouldn�t be demanding any rights, and I wouldn�t be here out carrying a Mexican flag, even if I was Mexican, because that�s an insult to what the country stands for, but we�re not getting any good leadership from the Republican president on this issue, are we?�
I know I would do the same thing, in terms of coming here illegally, but I wouldn't do that. But does the fact that they're coming here illegally for a better life (through voluntary migration, mind you) mean that it's okay? No.
| Quote: | | Ah I see. So since the Native Americans were not unified and had no way of repelling the foreigners, it was all fair game. Its bad enough we stole the land, but did we have to commit genocide as well? |
O'Reilly got this VERY SAME argument tonight as well. My point was not to say that what the colonists did was right, but that there was no country here with immigration laws. Now there is, and those laws are supposed to be explicitly enforced, but apparently it's okay to ignore them and not enforce them.
Tell you what? Tomorrow I'm gonna go up to the Safeway up the street and steal a candy bar. When they catch me--and they WILL catch me--I'll tell them not to do anything about it. I'll say that an Hispanic friend of mine told me that it's alright for one group of people to break the law but it's not right for everybody else to. Guess what kind of reaction I'll get for that?
That's right. It'll be a double standard.
Oh, and I'll also say that it's clearly alright for me to break the law, because the US government doesn't care about 24 million illegal immigrants for breaking the law. Isn't it alright for me to break the law now? What kind of a message does that send to us kids?
So it's alright for illegal aliens illegal aliens to want--to demand--something from our government which our government doesn't have an obligation to provide? Are you telling me that?
| Quote: | | Yeah, bad repurcussions. I also doubt those "MILLIONS" could replace that work force lost so quickly. |
Maybe not, but my point is that overtime they could. Do not forget the wide-spread amount of immigrants that want to come here and will take the time and do menial jobs just as well.
| Quote: | | They are demanding rights because the American governement wants to deport them all. They weren't demanding rights before all of this. Before all of this they working in crappy places for crappy pay. You all, Dem. and Repub., should have left well enough alone. Securing the border? Fine. Terrorizing the illegals here? Not so good. Look what it is getting us... |
Huh? What? The American government wants to deport them all? Where are you getting your news from--MediaMatters.org? Even CNN knows that that's not what they want. NO ONE is saying we should deport them all (well, with the exception of Savage). Not even JD Hayworth of Arizona or Tom Tancredo of Colorado, my favorite politician, believe that. So, yeah. Moot point which doesn't make sense.
What this was a result of, in the beginning, was a bill for strict law enforcement, in terms of illegal immigration, within the House. It called for a shutdown of the border and many other things, some of which I disagreed with. But it was NOT a deportation bill. Besides, this bill wasn't going to pass in the Senate anyways. The Senate never passes good legislation, so why would they pass slightly flawed legislation?
Next, NO ONE is "terrorizing illegals." To coin a phrase from Princess Leia, "I don't know where you get your delusions, laser brain."
Seriously, though. If trying to enforce the law is terrorizing people, then I'm Fidel Castro, which means I'm your literal best buddy.
I love how it's only they're fault, Founder. I love how it's merely the government's fault for actually trying to do something that they're actually supposed to do. I love how the illegals aren't at fault at all, and how these protests are only happening because the House tried to enforce the laws. , what a thought!
That's what they tried to do, Andy. They tried to secure the border, which was the main part of the bill, and people became up in arms about it. Then the Left started distorting everything and it became this huge mess.
It's not an issue the Democrats and Republicans should have left alone. It's an issue that should have been dealt with long ago. It's an issue that needs to be dealt with now.
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