May 1st..Remember, nothing gringo on May 1,"

[almaty 19]

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- "The Great American Boycott" is spreading south of the border, as activists call for Mexicans to boycott U.S. businesses on May 1.

The protest is timed to coincide with a May 1 boycott of work and shopping in the United States that also has been dubbed "A Day Without Immigrants." The boycott, which grew out of huge pro-migrant marches across the United States, is designed to pressure Congress to legalize millions of undocumented people.

Mexican unions, political and community groups, newspaper columnists and even some Mexican government offices have joined the call in recent days.

"Remember, nothing gringo on May 1," advises one of the many e-mails being circulated among Internet users in Mexico.

"On May 1, people shouldn't buy anything from the interminable list of American businesses in Mexico," reads another. "That means no Dunkin' Donuts, no McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, Sears, Krispy Kreme or Wal-Mart."

For some it's a way to express anti-U.S. sentiment, while others see it as part of a cross-border, Mexican-power lobby.

In some cases, advocates incorrectly identified firms as American -- Sears stores in Mexico, for example, have been owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim since 1997.

And ironically, the protest targets the U.S. business community, which is one of the strongest supporters of legalization or guest-worker programs.

"At the end of the day, boycotting would only hurt corporations that are backing what people want done in the immigration bill," said Larry Rubin, CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico. Rubin is encouraging people to write to their legislators instead of boycotting.

Roberto Vigil of the California-based immigrants rights group Hermandad Mexicana said his group has asked some of Mexico's largest labor unions to back the protest. Elias Bermudez, president of the Phoenix-based Immigrants Without Borders, is actively promoting the boycott in interviews with Mexican radio and television stations.

Mexican groups are responding. Pablo Gonzalez, spokesman for one of Mexico's largest labor unions, the Federation of Revolutionary Workers and Farmers, said his organization will support a boycott against "at least four of the most important U.S. firms, among them Wal-Mart," Mexico's largest retailer.

Two other major labor groups -- the telephone workers' and auto workers' unions -- also are expected to join, Vigil said.

Even parts of the Mexican government have signed onto the protest.

"We are not going to be buying any products from the United States on May 1," said Lolita Parkinson, national coordinator for the National Board of State Offices on Attention for Migrants, which represents state government-run migrant aid offices.

For some, the boycott is fueled not just by debate on the immigration bill, but by long-standing resentment over the perceived mistreatment of Mexicans in the United States.

"We want to show the power we have as Mexicans," said Carlos Chavez y Pacho, vice president of the chamber of commerce in Piedras Negras, across from Eagle Pass, Texas. Chavez y Pacho is also urging Mexicans not to shop in U.S. border cities on May 1, in part to protest what he calls arrogant behavior by U.S. customs officials and border officers.

Rafael Ruiz Harrell, who writes a column in the Mexico City newspaper Metro, predicted the boycott could give rise to a broader, pan-Latino movement.

"If we could get all of Latin America, for one day, to leave the U.S. firms without customers, we would be sending the kind of clear message they seem incapable of understanding," he wrote.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Damn does this mean our network guy in Monterrey will be taking the day off??

[Jenn! 918]

That's good. That means the line will be shorter at Dunkin' Donuts.

[almaty 19]

no burritos for you at taco bell ..

[arwensun1965 1]

That's good. That means the line will be shorter at Dunkin' Donuts.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The protest is timed to coincide with a May 1 boycott of work and shopping in the United States that also has been dubbed "A Day Without Immigrants."

A Day without Immigrants? Odd: My wife will be working. She's an immigrant. I will be working. I'm an immigrant. My foreign born co-workers plan on attending work, too. Not sure what those guys are talking about...

[Fischkoepfin 1]

Aehmmm... wasn't the US-boycott of Mexico on May 5??? And why abuse labor day (commemorating the Hay Market martyrs of 1884, the year of the first Mayday-celebration) for a boycott that hurst laborers rather than those that cause the problem (employers)???

[tweety 1]

The protest is timed to coincide with a May 1 boycott of work and shopping in the United States that also has been dubbed "A Day Without Immigrants."

A Day without Immigrants? Odd: My wife will be working. She's an immigrant. I will be working. I'm an immigrant. My foreign born co-workers plan on attending work, too. Not sure what those guys are talking about...

Always nice to see that the media seems to be successful in creating their very own version of the events. I get sick when I hear about the random lines being drawn to the civil rights movements of the 60s which had a completely different background. Now they already speak of ALL immigrants instead of only the illegal ones- NICE. The media coverage on this issue is really the worst I've ever seen.

[peejay 327]

Indeed why? But it doesn't surprise me that a country that actively dumps it's poor, unemployed, and underemployed in our laps for us to deal with would have the audacity to play the "victim". Boycott away!!! While they are on a roll...maybe they should encourage all of their illegals in the USA to boycott America entirely and return home to Mexico in mass?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Indeed why? But it doesn't surprise me that a country that actively dumps it's poor, unemployed, and underemployed in our laps for us to deal with would have the audacity to play the "victim". Boycott away!!! While they are on a roll...maybe they should encourage all of their illegals in the USA to boycott America entirely and return home to Mexico in mass?

Now, there would be "A Day Without Immigrants" to remember. If all Immigrants left the US for just one day. My wife and I would be game. And, seeing that we both have proper credentials, we'd be back the next day, too.

[almaty 19]

this is much ado about mothing ..a copycat play of the african-american boycotts of selma and montgomery in the '60s

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

No illegal border crossing on May 1 please.

[almaty 19]

No illegal border crossing on May 1 please.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

No illegal border crossing on May 1 please.

Damn! I so wanted to sneak out that day...

[pedroh 21]

ayyy Dios mio!! har har har har

lol.. these protesters are a bunch of arseholes.. although, I guess they felt homesick.. cuz May the 1st is an official holiday in Mexico..so I guess it was to feel like home..

then the other one in 5 de Mayo!! ayyy!! mhh good sales that day.. but I think I'm gonna be working too.. lol

although.. Radioshack sent a memo sayin if people wanted to go protest.. they should just request the day off, not just leave without a reason lol.. good exercise of freedom of speech

besides... what r they gonna do? protest naked??

if u see the amigos.. they always wear tommy jeans, or nike shoes and hats... so.. are they just not gonna buy 'gringo'.. or not wear gringo either?

PWNED har har

Edited April 14, 2006 by pedroh