Immigrant-rights groups divided over calls for boycotts on May 1

Published: 2006-04-24

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- After the coordinated April 10 National Day of Action for Immigrant Rights, the hundreds of organizations that pulled events together in 160 different cities are looking to follow up with a second day of action May 1. But while there's widespread agreement to do "something" that day, there's less unanimity about what, and particularly about whether to support the call by some for boycotting school, work and/or the marketplace. Supporters of a boycott say it would show the impact immigrants, legal and illegal, and those who support them, have on the economy of the United States. Activities planned in different cities range from prayer vigils to voter education projects, and cultural celebrations to marches. In Mexico a campaign has begun to boycott U.S. goods, services and companies as a reflection of the importance of Mexican consumers to the U.S. economy. At an April 20 press conference in Washington, representatives of some of the major regional and national organizations behind the events said they agreed they would not call for people to boycott work or school that day, but neither would they necessarily criticize those who are encouraging a boycott.

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