Immigrants flex their muscles in the US

Today has been set aside for immigrants in the US to boycott work, school and shopping to show how much they matter to their communities. But with some growing tired of street protests, and others afraid they’ll be deported or fired for walking out, people are planning to support the effort in myriad ways.

Some will work but buy nothing today. Others will protest at lunch breaks or at rallies after work. There will be church services, candlelight vigils, picnics and human chains.

The range of activities shows both how powerful the immigrants’ rights movement has become in a matter of weeks, and that organisers don’t yet have a clear focus on its next step.

Some insist that a boycott is the next key step – beyond marches – to show the nation just how much economic power undocumented workers hold. “The marches are a tool, but they are being overused,” said Mahonrry Hidalgo, head of the immigration committee of New Jersey’s Latino Leadership Alliance. Like civil rights boycotts of decades past, he said, “this could finally be the spark for our people to advance.”

Opponents of illegal immigration spent the weekend building a fence to symbolise their support of a secure border. About 200 volunteers organised by the Minuteman Civil Defence Corps of California worked on a six-foot barbed-wire fence along a quarter-mile stretch of rugged terrain near the US-Mexico border about 50 miles (80 kilometres) east of San Diego.

In Mexico, where an immigration march also is planned to pass in front of the US Embassy, President Vicente Fox urged Mexicans to be prudent in their protests in either country.

Many worry that not working or spending money will alienate business leaders, and that cutting classes sends an anti-education message. Even Los Angeles’ Spanish-language disc jockeys, who helped fuel marches hundreds of thousands strong in recent weeks, have toned it down. “We have to demonstrate that we came here to succeed,” said Eduardo Sotelo, whose morning show, ”Piolin por la Manana,” is syndicated nationwide.

In each of New York City’s five boroughs, thousands of workers are expected to take work breaks shortly after noon to link arms with shoppers, restaurant-goers and other supporters along city sidewalks for about 20 minutes. ”This will symbolise the interdependence of all of us, not just immigrants, but all of society,” said Chung-Wa Hong, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition.

Many hope that workers’ bosses also will join their efforts – and some already are showing their support.