Thread: Northern Va. supervisor says immigrant boycott will backfire

Northern Va. supervisor says immigrant boycott will backfire

By the Associated Press
August 29, 2007

MANASSAS, Va. - A weeklong economic boycott by immigrants against Prince William County businesses will backfire, the county's top elected official said.

Immigrant groups called for the boycott, which is set to last through Monday, to protest legislation that seeks to deny many public services to illegal immigrants. They are targeting all non-immigrant-owned businesses, including chains like Wal-Mart as well as gas stations and convenience stores. They also are planning a rally Sunday and a work stoppage in October.

Many merchants who don't want to lose customers have posted green signs provided by boycott organizers this week that proclaim "We Are a Pro-Immigrant Business. Rescind the Prince William County Anti-Immigration Resolution."

That has prompted Prince William County Chairman Corey Stewart to urge residents who want stricter immigration laws to avoid businesses supporting the boycott.

"Anybody who is encouraging illegal activity and illegal immigration, I don't have any sympathy for them," Stewart said Tuesday. "It emboldens us to continue the crackdown."

The anti-illegal-immigration group Help Save Manassas has been taking note of businesses that are posting signs in support of the boycott. County officials say residents have a right to take note of businesses openly challenging the government's action.

"It just confirms the fact that illegal immigrants and their support groups have no respect for our community or for the rule of law," Stewart said.

Store owners who requested the signs understood that publicly challenging county leadership could provoke a backlash but were still willing to take a stand, said Nancy Lyall, a spokeswoman for the group Mexicans Without Borders, which is helping to coordinate the boycott.

"We are getting such a positive response from the community," she said. "They want this boycott. They are very sincere about adhering to it."

Proponents of the county's resolution, passed in July, believe illegal immigrants have led to an increase in crime and a strain on public services. Critics say the resolution is a racist reaction to profound demographic changes in the county's Latino population, which has tripled in the past decade and is now estimated at 30,000.

Maria Rivera, a hotel maid from Woodbridge, said she is a legal resident but is upset at the proposals aimed at driving out illegal immigrants. She said she decided to participate in the boycott after hearing about it through her church.

"They don't want our children in the schools. They don't want people renting to immigrants. They want to ask for families' ID cards in parks. This is wrong, and we do not accept it," she said.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/vi ... 8438.story

It'll backfire, just as the mass demonstrations with Mexican flags and threatening speeches backfired. Instead of cowing us, many people woke up and said OMG look how many there are, and look at what their attitude towards us is - how did this get so far out of hand?????

"They don't want our children in the schools. They don't want people renting to immigrants. They want to ask for families' ID cards in parks. This is wrong, and we do not accept it," she said.

If you are in this country illegally, you would be wise to drop the arrogant demands and show some appreciation for the sacrifices and generosity of the American taxpayers.

It is not wrong for us to enforce our laws, and we really don't give a kitty what you think. Oh, and yes, you WILL accept it. If you don't like it, leave.