LAREDO, Texas, May 13 (UPI) -- Business owners in Mexican towns and cities along the Texas border plan a "Day Without Mexicans" to protest Arizona's immigration law.
They also hope the protest, scheduled for May 25, will discourage Texas from similar legislation, the Laredo Morning Times reports. They have asked Mexicans to stay on their own side of the border that day and especially not to shop in the United States.
Emilio Giron Fernandez de Jauregui, president of the Nuevo Laredo Chamber of Commerce, said, "Historically Mexican nationals have left their money in border cities."
Giron Fernandez de Jauregui said demonstrations will be held at the bridges across the Rio Grande. But he said protesters will not be encouraged to block the bridges.
"It will be a grand moment of solidarity among border Mexicans," he said.
While Texas Gov. Rick Perry and other political leaders have said they do not want the state to adopt a law like the Arizona one, Giron Fernandez de Jauregui said he had heard of plans to introduce a bill that would make being an undocumented foreigner a crime.
