Latino Hollywood Actors (Olmos, Longoria, Hayek) Back May 1st Immigrant Boycott

[Pilaf]

Latin Hollywood actors back immigrant boycott
AFP ^ | Apr 27 06 | AFP


Hayek, Longoria, Olmos & Leguizamo Join Cause

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Hollywood stars, including Edward James Olmos and Salma Hayek, have joined ranks with a boycott planned for May 1 to protest the proposed tightening of US immigration laws.

Activists have called for immigrants and their supporters to abstain from work, studies or purchases Monday, following on massive demonstrations they staged around the United States in the past month.

May 1 is not a holiday in the United States, where Labor Day is celebrated in September.

"The protest will be very important, because it will teach a lesson to politicians and the rest of the United States," Olmos, who is of Mexican descent, said of the action.

Oscar-winning Argentine composer Gustavo Santaolalla and Colombian actor John Leguizamo also lent their names to the cause.

Hayek, who is Mexican, said she knows herself what it means to "open a path" in the United States, as she told the Mexican press.

Before departing on a European promotional tour, Hayek was considering how she could support the May 1 boycott, a source close to the actress said.

"We have to demand respect and dignity, because we are all workers and because we are already part of the DNA of this country," Santaolalla, Oscar winner for the score to "Brokeback Mountain," told AFP.

Leguizamo, who played in "Moulin Rouge" (2001) and "Carlito's Way" (1993) among other films said that the was "proud of the protests" in which millions of Latinos took to the streets in recent weeks to protest some of the tougher immigration measures being debated in Washington.

"It is insulting that the law would call an immigrant a criminal," he said. "It's horrible."

In Washington chances improved that lawmakers would strike a compromise between those who would criminalize unapproved entry into the United States and build a wall along the Mexican border, and those who would admit guest workers or offer a path to citizenship to some illegal immigrants already working here.

Meanwhile, the US Department of Homeland Security rounded up more than 1,100 undocumented workers last week, and plan to round up more.

Participation in the May 1 "Day without Immigrants" is uncertain, however, as some immigrant advocacy groups have warned that a boycott and strike could trigger mass firings and a backlash.

"Americans respect those who struggle, those who don't cow down," said Juan Jose Gutierrez, director of Latino Movement USA in Los Angeles, who supports the boycott.

"We can't (only) continue marching to make ourselves heard," he said.

On the other hand, the National Council of La Raza, the largest pro-Latino group, does not oppose the May 1 action, but suggested that instead of taking the day off, marches take place after school or work.

And Eva Longoria, of "Desperate Housewives," has also spoken out for the cause, but is careful to see both sides of the benefits of immigration, as well as the need to secure the US border

[Mel1973]

That's right Eva, don't pick a side.
Plus, there is a difference between "immigrant" and "illigal immigrant" - there's a reason the word "illegal" is included. And, you guessed right, the reason is: It's ILLEGAL. We have plenty of immigrants here in Houston - illegal as well as legal - I ain't against immigration, but I am against people being so desperate to immigrate that a truck load of them die from the heat because some bastard abandons the truck they are locked in - after taking all their damn money. As long as people are willing to pay those dirt bags, this type of thing will continue. That's what we should really look at cracking down on. I wonder how many people just take the money and then leave them to die or worse?

[Cate]

What they should really be doing is coming down hard on the countries that these people feel the need to risk dying to leave. Mexico is incredibly corrupt. My numbers are wrong (I don't have a memory for numbers!), but something like 20 families own 90% of the wealth in that country. Mexico has natural resources and a beautiful countryside. It's a shame that the system is broken and needs to be fixed. If the people couldn't come into the US so easily, thus relieving the economic devastation, the country would probably face a much needed revolution. (ITA about punishing the people making money off of this and those hiring them.)

On a more serious note, though- Could we pretty please get J-Lo to boycott the entertainment industry??

[SVZ]

This isn't about the Mexicans in general, but I hate how some people see the US and Canada as this golden oppurtunity...you have doctors, teachers and technicians who move over here and because of boundaries their diplomas aren't recognized - so yay they work at moneymart and yellow cab

[Mel1973]

It's terrible. Here, we have crowds of Mexican "immigrants" standing on street corners waiting for someone to pick them up and pay them $2.00 cash for a day's work.

Let J.Lo boycott please!

[Pilaf]

That's right Eva, don't pick a side.

She's clueless!

[nana55]

I try to see both sides. But being an legal immigrant I get really pissed at the lationo rights groups who don't like us calling them illegal immigants. They say stupid things like "how can a person be illegal" It is wrong to come across that way. I know why they do it, I don't blame them for doing it, but Mexico needs to clean up its own country. Cate is right, let them overthrow their country and force them to clean up. They have everything they need to make a beautiful country. we are becoming a thrid world country. Our best and brightest are leaving california, and the poor and uneducated are moving here.

[calendargurl]

"It is insulting that the law would call an immigrant a criminal," he said. "It's horrible."

Well if they're an illegal immigrant they ARE a criminal. Why should they be rewarded for being here illegally and not putting forth the effort and doing whatever they need to do to become a citizen?

[JordanJames]

I think there has to be a compromise. I mean its not right for people to be treated like slaves. When an immigrant is illegal they are like a slave or an indentured servant. Its like a new form of slavery. The government is in a way attempting to protect them. However, the American immigration laws are a bit too stringent. I thnk if the laws were more reasonable and fair maybe people would have an easier time to enter and work in America.

[hello]

Do illegal immigrants who give birth in the U.S. get to stay and take advantage of our liberal take care of the poor programs because the child is considered American?
Is that why in our area of Arkansas the birthrate of Hispanic babies is out of control? Yeah, the guys come to work at the Tyson Chicken Plant, impregnate a girlfriend or wife and then ask the woman for the check that the baby gets. What check???? Do we give Hispanic women checks for having babies here????

[ralphycnan]

I don't think they should be view as criminals, they are illegal because there is pretty much no way that they can become legal. The US doesn't offer much to let people become legal, it's either through a parent, child or another close family member that you can become legal. Many of these people come here to make money and money only, many of them get taxed too or get ripped off badly by employers who don't pay them enough. It's sad that Mexico can't take care of their own people but not all countries are like the US. And it's not just hispanics that are on welfare.

[luvmy2cats]

Do illegal immigrants who give birth in the U.S. get to stay and take advantage of our liberal take care of the poor programs because the child is considered American?
Is that why in our area of Arkansas the birthrate of Hispanic babies is out of control? Yeah, the guys come to work at the Tyson Chicken Plant, impregnate a girlfriend or wife and then ask the woman for the check that the baby gets. What check???? Do we give Hispanic women checks for having babies here????

I am also in Arkansas and a few months ago the state authorities cracked down on illegal immigrants and sent a bunch of them back to Mexico. There were approximately 10 children who were born in the US and they were allowed to stay in the US, but their parents were not allow to stay. I remembered reading that they were placed in foster care because their parents did not want their children growing up in Mexico.

[darksithbunny]

What do you think would happen to you if you were caught, IN MEXICO, illegally? Your ass would never see the light of day again. Or you would be murdered. Simple as that.

They are breaking the law. There is a right legal way of getting to this country. My family had to do it. I am sure most of your families have as well. It should not change. If anything, we need to stop it completely. We still have a terrorism issue here. If they can get in, so can the people who want to do way worse than taking care of your garden.(Note: I don't have any doing my garden, I simply don't have that kind of money.)

[slurikaine]

I don't see why they're getting their panties all in a bunch because they're being called illegal. It's a term for any immigrant that doesn't have their paperwork, not just a Mexican person who doesn't have their paperwork.

That being said, I'm sick to death of hearing that we have to support all these illegal immigrants with our hard earned money. I have nothing against immigration, after all, our country was founded on it, but all of our ancestors went through Ellis Island, took their test and got their citizenship. Why are they so different? Just because they didn't have to travel by boat and can walk into the US? Its rediculous.

[Mel1973]

I can tell you that I personally am disgusted by these ESL classes. If people so desperately want to come here and send their children to school, then teach them to speak English! Plus, when I tried to put my blonde haired, blue-eyed, English speaking, non retarded child in PUBLIC preschool, he wasn't allowed. Why? Because A) I have a job. B) He speaks English. C) He is not "handicapped". I understand the handicapped thing, that's fine if they want to put handicapped children in before mine, and go ahead check my finances, but don't tell me my kid can't go to a public school because he speaks the language of the country we live in!