City by city...they are worried about 287g spreading. Start asking your council to apply for 287g.


Latinos start boycott in Waukegan

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... S2.article

July 4, 2007

By RYAN PAGELOW rpagelow@scn1.com

Church urges dialogue and patience instead

By withdrawing his money from a Waukegan bank and depositing in a bank outside the city, Raymundo Vara of Waukegan joins other immigrants in a boycott to put pressure on the City of Waukegan.

Mutterings of boycott began circulating last week and have gained more momentum this week among people who want to take a more aggressive stance against the City Council's decision to apply for training to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"We're all getting together," Vara said. "We're going to pressure the City."

By withdrawing money from Waukegan banks and avoiding shopping at gas stations and Wal-Mart, supporters of the boycott hope to affect the tax revenue the city receives.

"We have to let them know that we count in this community. We're paying taxes," said Vara, who is a legal permanent resident originally from Mexico.

On Sunday he said he was planning to transfer $25,000 from a Waukegan bank to another one outside of the city this week. Vara, who works in heating and cooling installation, said he had planned to use the money to invest in his own heating and cooling business in Waukegan. He now plans to wait because he believes the City Council's decision has hurt Waukegan's economy by causing fear in the immigrant community.

Meanwhile, leaders at Holy Family Parish, such as Rev. Gary Graf, have called for dialogue with the city and patience. In a flyer passed out at church, he wrote, "As pastor of your parishes, I ask you to please be patient and remain informed of how we are handling this process. I also urge you not to involve yourself in activities that will damage our efforts. We draw hope from the fact that we have an open dialogue with our officials and that they are interested in working with us."

On Sunday nearly a dozen Latino business and community leaders met at Belvidere Mall to plan to attend the July 2 City Council meeting to voice their opposition to 287(g) which would allow police to perform some immigration functions.

Tom Garcia, who owns a roofing business in Mundelein, attended the meeting and made signs that read "No 287(g)."

"I've come to help the people. I have friends in Waukegan and I worry about their situation. I don't want this to affect us in Mundelein."