Monday, May 1, is the current buzz in the immigration debate.
Nationwide, activists and interest groups are urging Hispanic immigrants and their supporters to boycott work, school and shopping on that day to show the influence the group has on the national economy.
Kevin Nortz / The Herald
The national movement is reminiscent of the 2004 movie “A Day Without a Mexican,” in which California wakes up one morning to find its Hispanic population has disappeared.
Supporters believe the national movement could make lawmakers on Capitol Hill reform immigration rules to allow millions of illegal workers to become citizens.
Other activist groups in Mexico, and departments of the Mexican government, are pushing people in that country to support the U.S. boycott by not buying any American products on Monday.
Jos Prez plans to close his Taqueria Guaymas restaurant in Monroe on Monday in a show of support.
“I want to help out my people,” Prez said, adding he will pay his employees for the day off.
Prez, a U.S. citizen, immigrated from Jalisco, Mexico, 15 years ago.
“One day does not make you any richer or any poorer,” he said in Spanish.
Critics, like Bob Baker of Mercer Island, believe the boycott could fuel anti-illegal immigrant sentiment.
Baker is pushing a statewide initiative aimed at cutting off taxpayer-financed benefits to illegal immigrants by requiring government workers to check the status of those seeking such things as food stamps and non-emergency medical care.
He hopes to begin gathering signatures Friday and figures Monday’s planned event will attract many signers.
| Hispanics in Snohomish County
4.7 percent of the approximately 606,000 people in Snohomish County were of Hispanic origin in 2000. * 9.7 percent of the approximately 14,000 people in Monroe were of Hispanic origin in 2000. Sources: 2000 U.S. Census |
“Absolutely,” he said. “We saw it when they had the marches. There was a backlash. We expect the same if they go out May 1.”
A Monroe-based painting company temporarily fired 17 Hispanic workers after they left a job a few hours early to attend a large rally in Seattle on April 10.
Baker also volunteers with the Minutemen, the citizens group patrolling the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico in search of illegal crossers.
“I don’t think people realize how many there are in our state,” he said.
Boycott organizers also are reaching out to students.
Frank Medina, an Everett High School junior, plans to attend classes as normal on Monday, but said some of his friends are going to boycott school. Medina said he is not sure how successful the one-day boycott would be in showing the economic impact of Hispanics.
“I don’t think it’s enough,” he said.
Monroe High School senior Jessica Duenas said since there is no school for her on Monday – it’s a school improvement day – she will likely join the Seattle rally.
Earlier this month Duenas and her friends organized a walkout of about 100 students in Monroe, where about one out of 10 people are of Hispanic descent.
She hopes the boycott leads to changes that will let illegal immigrants become citizens. The process now takes too long, she said.
Not everyone appears to be as enamored with the idea of the boycott, which is being pushed by numerous grassroots groups and Mexican radio and TV stations.
Alfonso Lorepo owns Mazatlan Mexican Products in Monroe across the street from Taqueria Guaymas. Lorepo said his grocery store will open as normal on Monday.
Monroe residents Lupita Petersen and Sonia Melgoza didn’t comment on the May 1 boycott, but they said they will work as normal.
They said they are focusing on local activities, such as trying to get Latino businesses to join the Monroe Chamber of Commerce. Only one Latino business is now a member of the chamber.
“Our target is to be united, productive and grow,” Melgoza said.
Herald Reporter Jerry Cornfield contributed to this report.
Herald Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
La Raza del Noroeste Reporter Harold Avelar: 425-339-4028 or havelar@raza-nw.com.
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