Call to organize for May Day 2007

The following is a call for a national conference on Feb 3-4 in Los Angeles to organize the Great American Boycott II, which will be held on May 1. The call has been endorsed by immigrants and immigrant advocates, labor activists, students, anti-war activists and more. Visit www.march25coalition.org for more information.

On Election Day, Nov. 7, 2006, the Iraq war, corruption and a lack of immigration reform took center stage. The electorate spoke and the extreme right lost control of Congress; the Democrats are the new majority.

The correlation of forces has changed and there is a new political reality, but as history tells, the Democrats are part of the “Empire.” They will not end the war. Corruption and record profits will continue to soar. An inclusive, pro-immigrant, non-corporate immigration reform will not be addressed unless we march and boycott as we did in 2006.

On May Day 2006 history was made. The world watched as millions marched and boycotted the economy. We shut down the economy in several key cities, states and border entries. In Los Angeles alone we shut down the ports, trucking, taxis, construction, public transportation, agriculture, gardening, home-care and day care work, small and chain restaurants and stores, factories, the garment and meat industries, offices, etc.

In the Midwest meatpacking and auto parts plants were shut; in Florida, agriculture and construction. In El Paso, Texas, 40,000 migrant workers refused to cross the border. In New York; Chicago; San Francisco; Oakland, Calif.; Phoenix; Tucson, Ariz.; San Jose, Calif.; San Antonio; Orange County, Calif.; San Diego; and many other cities, the boycott succeeded. Students walked out, businesses closed and the people refused to buy. In Mexico, Central America and in many other countries U.S. corporations were targeted by millions of workers. It was truly a day without immigrants.

We have begun to debate and plan for a new round of protests and a nationwide boycott starting May 1. This time, we hope to protest not just one day, but more. Why? To assure the immigrant rights forces give voice to and empower the tens of millions of immigrants in the U.S., it is imperative to have broad-based representation from all immigrant groups in order to move the immigration reform agenda: unconditional legalization for all immigrants. We represent the Central and South American, the Mexican, the South Asian, Pacific, East Asian, Caribbean and African immigrant communities, the undocumented Irish, Eastern European, Muslim and Middle Eastern immigrants, and stand with the Native Americans, the victims of Katrina, the women, youth, students, unionists, anti-war activists and clergy who are together demanding a better country where all can live decent lives, free of fear and deprivation.

To plan this effort, to decide the demands, the preparation and the plan of action, we are calling activists to a May Day Planning Conference in Los Angeles. We will assess what we have done, debate how to broaden the movement, educate ourselves on the situation facing us and democratically make decisions. We intend to put this effort in the context of the history of the immigrant and workers movements in this country, to link it to allies internationally, and to address the root causes of mass migration in the policies of globalization. Join with us in this effort and make May Day another truly historical day.