Thread: Colo: Week-long IA Boycott Planned, w/comments

Saying bye-buy for a week
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS' MESSAGE IN A BOYCOTT
By Elizabeth Aguilera
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 03/24/2007 09:20:17 AM MDT


Tim Marquez, owner of the Laughing Bean Cafe on Santa Fe Drive, gives Jaime Lopez, a volunteer with Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, permission to put up a flier announcing a week-long economic boycott. (Post / Hyoung Chang)Immigrant groups will kick off a week-long economic boycott Sunday to push for immigration reform with the support of business owners and associations.

The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, which has 80 member groups statewide, is encouraging illegal immigrants and supporters not to spend money this week beyond buying food and medicine.

The purpose is to send a message to Congress that illegal immigrants contribute by working and spending and that comprehensive immigration reform including a pathway to citizenship is needed, said Julien Ross, coordinator of CIRC.

"The economic boycott will illustrate the need for immigration reform and that without immigrants, both documented or undocumented, our state could not survive," Ross said. "We can no longer take for granted immigrants and their contributions."

It is estimated there are nearly 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. and about 225,000 to 275,000 in Colorado.

Some opponents of illegal immigration say they will spend more this week to offset any effects of the boycott.

"I do not think they should be allowed to stay. They have broken the law even if the law has not been enforced," said Susan McGinley, 46, of Loveland. "If a restaurant is closed or hurting because people are not there, I will never go back."

"Businesses will succeed"

Robert Brown, a 54-year-old Denver lawyer, plans to spend more money in opposition.

"If the illegal immigrants don't want to spend money here, I do believe they should go home and spend all they want in their home country," he said. "I think American businesses will succeed without the spending by illegal immigrants, especially as taxes, which are used to support and maintain the illegals, are used for better purposes."

Organizers do not have estimates of what the effect of this week's boycott might be. Groups boycotted work and spending May 1 last year, but there are no accurate estimates about the impact on local economies.

Local business owners were asked to support with a signature or a financial contribution, or by closing for a day or more.

"I think the immigrant worker is vital to our economy and our well-being," said Tim Marquez, owner of the Laughing Bean Cafe on Santa Fe Drive. "I totally understand why these actions need to be taken. As a business owner, I worry, but it's a sacrifice all of us need to make."

The Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which supports comprehensive immigration reform, does not support the planned boycott.

"Even though the undocumented worker plays an important role in the economy in Colorado, the economic boycotts will have a negative effect on not only all business but also the Hispanic businesses," said Jeff Campos, chamber president.

The best way to get comprehensive reform, Campos said, is to lobby elected officials.

Nationwide there are more than 2 million Latino-owned businesses. In Colorado there are 24,054 Hispanic-owned firms, which account for $5.1 billion in annual sales, according to 2002 census data.

Supporting the Dream Act

CIRC representatives traveled to Washington, D.C., recently to lobby congressional members to support the Dream Act, a pathway to citizenship, fair worker programs and family reunification, Ross said.

The boycott, he said, is another tool to push for those reforms.

Cirilo Alejandre, who runs the mariachi band Estrella del Sur, pledged his support. His business is suffering, and immigration reform would revive it.

Latino immigrants are not having parties and events where mariachi might play because they are fearful of raids, he said.

"The economy has already slowed down for us," Alejandre said. "I support this."

Staff writer Elizabeth Aguilera can be reached at 303-820-1372 or eaguilera@denverpost.com.

http://www.denverpost.com/technology/ci_5510590
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Readers Comments | Add Comment

Posted By: dave (24/03/2007 1:19:26 AM)
Comment: They should REALLY teach us a lesson and go back to mexico and boycott from there.

Posted By: Monica (24/03/2007 8:18:32 AM)
Comment: This remark is really ignorant. Immigrants are not just from Mexico, they are from all over the Country & a lot of them also support this plan as do a lot of the American US Born Citizens. Why should they all have to go to Mexico to boycott?

Posted By: Jim aka Jaime (24/03/2007 9:05:52 AM)
Comment: Hola! Quetal!! Darn it! Now I am going to have to wait a full week to get my car washed and lawn mowed. I guess I can shop at Walmart now and not have to wait in the long lines..

Posted By: Berry (24/03/2007 9:26:48 AM)
Comment: Man, thats a good point!!! Maybe I can actually go to a thrift store for that week and there will be a selection of crap to choose from....Also, since our friends south of the border will not be out buying anything, that means they won't be driving either!! Damn, the roads will be clear of traffic and the accident rates will fall. Why don't these boycotts happen more!!!!

Posted By: Grand Duke Chocula (24/03/2007 4:40:34 AM)
Comment: This boycott will have zero financial effect and 100% negative effect adainst "Hispanics". If these "groups" would rather cause a ruckus than assimilate, then they alone create the coming hadships they will surely endure. Bad move.

Posted By: Arthur (24/03/2007 6:07:27 AM)
Comment: Boycotting is a powerful economic tool that calls attention to an issue where it hurts. It was effective in the 60's because the people were willing to boycott long term until changes to a paricular issue were meet, ie. grape, Coors beer,bus, and lettuce boycotts, but I'm not sure it will be work now since it is only week long boycott unless it's only purpose is to call attention to the economic necessity that small businesses have with those people that they count on to run a business profitably. I'm interested to see what the outcome does. I know it will piss people off, but that is a gimme.

Posted By: Jon (24/03/2007 8:12:32 AM)
Comment: I'm boycotting the boycott by spending double this week.

Posted By: john (24/03/2007 11:39:41 AM)
Comment: Yeah, a powerful tool, and one which could easily backfire. There's plenty of resentment towards people demanding rights who are here against the law. There's also plenty of examples of shops where illegals have been removed (the south and east coast mostly) where the average wage went up SIGNIFICANTLY and *US citizens* who previously couldn't afford to live on the lower wages now sought jobs. Immigration reform, fine, but be careful, pushing this agenda too hard will fail - badly. Further, we *really* need to look at allowing SKILLED workers (engineers, doctors, etc) to come in where we have shortages (continuing decline in engineers causing shortages, Bill Gates and others have tried to bring this to the forefront)

Posted By: Arthur (24/03/2007 6:07:27 AM)
Comment: Boycotting is a powerful economic tool that calls attention to an issue where it hurts. It was effective in the 60's because the people were willing to boycott long term until changes to a paricular issue were meet, ie. grape, Coors beer,bus, and lettuce boycotts, but I'm not sure it will be work now since it is only week long boycott unless it's only purpose is to call attention to the economic necessity that small businesses have with those people that they count on to run a business profitably. I'm interested to see what the outcome does. I know it will piss people off, but that is a gimme.

Posted By: Arthur (24/03/2007 6:07:27 AM)
Comment: Boycotting is a powerful economic tool that calls attention to an issue where it hurts. It was effective in the 60's because the people were willing to boycott long term until changes to a paricular issue were meet, ie. grape, Coors beer,bus, and lettuce boycotts, but I'm not sure it will be work now since it is only week long boycott unless it's only purpose is to call attention to the economic necessity that small businesses have with those people that they count on to run a business profitably. I'm interested to see what the outcome does. I know it will piss people off, but that is a gimme.

Posted By: bob (24/03/2007 9:22:24 AM)
Comment: Thanks for the 3 posts, how about you quit spamming this blog!!

Posted By: Juan R (24/03/2007 6:30:29 AM)
Comment: All these boycotts do is piss people off and have a negative impact on the Hispanic population as a whole. I am 3rd generation Mexican American(key word"American")and grow tired of these boycotts. Its just hurts the business community as a whole. Tell Congress to get to work and fix our borders and stop catering to corporate America!!

Posted By: HankC. (24/03/2007 7:20:58 AM)
Comment: Colorado's Rep. Salazar is a co-sponsor of the U.S. House of Representatives "Amnesty for Everyone Bill", HR 1645. Call his office if you oppose his support of allowing every illegal, no matter from what country, to easily becoming a citizen. Did your family have it so easy when they came to this country?

Posted By: Vilma (24/03/2007 11:16:20 AM)
Comment: You are so darn right. It took me a long period of waiting then a lot of money and fees, to get my Mother here (legally) in America from the Philippines. And I'm a naturalized American Citizen.

Posted By: Pablo (24/03/2007 7:24:39 AM)
Comment: The US economy is already seeing a big hit. Immigrants send much of their money back home instead of spending it in the USA. It is the second largest source of income in Mexico today.

Posted By: Bill (24/03/2007 8:02:21 AM)
Comment: How about they say "bye-buy" forever and just leave? How about they boycott from Mexico? These people are unsurpassed at stubbing their own toes. All they'll end up doing is inflamming people. Thats all. I couldn't care less about their "boycott". They already cost us enough with free maternity,medical, education, healthcare, food stamps, WIC, Section 8 as it is. How the hell is a one week boycott going to further hurt us? You go guys. You be sure and teach us a lesson! Maybe we can get a nationwide movement called "One week without illegal day laborers" or "One week with no benefits to illegals?" I'd love it.

Posted By: Teresa (24/03/2007 8:17:54 AM)
Comment: Well I hope they make sure to boycott the free services they get, the roads they drive on, etc. Give me a break...go home!

Posted By: Bill (24/03/2007 8:18:30 AM)
Comment: I just thought of something else! Boycott starts Sunday? Cool. I really mean it. Cool. THATS when I'll do my major grocery shopping. If we're being boycotted, that means I can go to the Supermarket, and actually get through a check-out line without Paco y Maria and their 6 kids holding up the line deciding what phone card to Mexico to buy, as they pay for their groceries with Food Stamps, and further holding up the line when the checker has to go over the loudspeaker to get an checker that speaks espanol to assist because Paco y Maria can't speak english. I won't have to watch them get into their brand new Chevy Silverado pick-up truck with Mexican decals on the rear slider that Bank of America no doubt financed. I CAn'T WAIT!

Posted By: brenda (24/03/2007 8:35:51 AM)
Comment: i wish they would "boycott" here in new mexico, it would be nice to go out with out them, if they just buy food and medicine they are not spending their money,because they are all on foodstamps and medicare or medicaid...what the heck!!!!!!

Posted By: jeanne (24/03/2007 9:12:36 AM)
Comment: Fantastic!! I need more boycotts so I can shop without the mama-mias and the obnoxious kids in the stores. This does not break my heart!

Show/Hide Replies (1) | Reply to Comment
Posted By: Mary (24/03/2007 9:42:23 AM)
Comment: Can we boycott paying for their "free" healthcare, "free" anchor baby maternity fees, "free" WIC vouchers, "free" public school education? If not why not? Oh wait, we're law-abiding taxpaying citizens, we don't count.

Posted By: Jon (24/03/2007 9:47:22 AM)
Comment: Arthur, Will they boycott the E, food stamps, etc? Will they stop spray painting every where? No! This is a bunch of people who think they have a right to be here. Time to send them back to Mexico (yes Monica, most of them come from the dirty corrupt "country").

Posted By: Al (24/03/2007 10:13:36 AM)
Comment: Terrorist act! Makes me sick that they are here illegally demanding rights. WTF!

Posted By: john (24/03/2007 10:42:13 AM)
Comment: I suppoert "La cuca Gotcha" they broke the law and all they can spout is racist, THEY ARE ILLEGAL ALIENS - key word ILLEGAL!!!!!!!. send them all packing good riddance. Cinco de bye-bye

Posted By: Vilma Keith (24/03/2007 11:03:42 AM)
Comment: I am sick and tired of those illegal, they are nothing but burden to this country, they need to go back where they belong. America need to stop supporting people that don't even want to learn to speak English. What's up with that. I am an American Citizen but was born in the Philippines, I worked hard and complied to everything that this country needed from me, and I am so proud to be a citizen of this country, but I am so tired of having my tax money spend on some people that does not want to help better themselves. It is time for America to really stand up and required every single one that comes here in this country to speak English and not to conform with this people providing translator or what not.

Posted By: Patriot (24/03/2007 11:07:56 AM)
Comment: Gee..what do you think they will do on their "vacation"? Probably breed like bunnies out of wedlock and on our dime...per usual. For a supposed "family" focused group..they sure have allot of illegitimate children and family violence. Send them all home and repeal the 13th amendment. Losers. Better yet, let's have the same high immigration standards and walls that mexico has on it's northern border. Let them take that supposed "work hard" ethic and overthrow their pitiful, criminal, government.

Reply to Comment
Posted By: Raib (24/03/2007 11:23:35 AM)
Comment: Look...I have no issue with people coming to this country by legal means. When you are a legal resident, you then have a voice. Go ahead and boycott it will not change my views. If you want to make a statement and not work, fine. I can use the second job to pay for the taxes I owe (you see, legal residents pay taxes).

Reply to Comment
Posted By: Jeremy (24/03/2007 11:29:44 AM)
Comment: There already is a clear pathway for citizenship that many people have followed. Why are we boycotting to help people that are not wanting to come here legally, and I mean any race/nationality? Having family that immigrated here legally, I support spending more money this week to "boycott the boycott."

Posted By: dave (24/03/2007 11:45:29 AM)
Comment: "I won't have to watch them get into their brand new Chevy Silverado pick-up truck with Mexican decals on the rear slider that Bank of America no doubt financed. " dont forget they probably used a stolen legal us residents ssn to get the loan.

http://www.denverpost.com/technology/ci_5510590

Wow! The comments say it all. DC, you reading any of this????

THIS is all they have!

They KNOW that Americans are FED UP and not going to sit by quietly.


Please.........from your mouths to God's ears.........BOYCOTT & MARCH your hearts out!!!!