WASHINGTON, April 14 (UPI) -- U.S. organizations that staged nationwide rallies for illegal immigrants are split over whether to go ahead with an economic boycott on May 1.
Across the country, some groups have expressed enthusiasm for a boycott -- dubbed "A Day Without Immigrants" -- they hope will paralyze restaurants, hotels, meat-packing plants and construction sites, the Washington Post reports. Others question the strategic value of such a move so soon after the wave of demonstrations since it would require many illegal immigrants to risk their jobs by skipping yet another workday.
Skeptics are also concerned a prominent anti-war group may be playing a leading role in the boycott, linking its cause with the immigrant rights campaign to promote its own agenda.
Immigrant leaders were alarmed Act Now to Stop War and End Racism co-sponsored an April 4 news conference in Washington to announce the boycott before the April 10 events. The group has been criticized by conservatives as being affiliated with the Socialist Workers Party and supporting the Palestinian uprising against Israel.
