Boycotts

Mexican activists are calling for a boycott of all U.S. businesses south of the border on May 1. The campaign, aimed at pressuring Congress to legalize undocumented migrants in the United States, was timed to coincide with a campaign by activists urging them to skip work and avoid spending money to demonstrate their importance to the U.S. economy.

Sharp divisions are emerging among organizers of the pro-immigrant rallies that brought hundreds of thousands of marchers into the streets across the nation, with two leading coalitions calling for starkly different approaches to the next major action scheduled for May 1.

Los Angeles County employees are being warned that they must obtain prior approval to participate in a May 1 nationwide boycott being organized by immigrant rights groups or face possible disciplinary action. "While we respect employees' free speech rights, it is important that we be able to maintain public services," read a memo sent this week to human resources administrators in all county departments.

MAD at a destination? Don't like its politics or laws? Boycott it. That seems to be a popular response, based on my recent search for "travel boycott" on Google, which turned up more than 7 million hits. But whether such efforts effect change is questionable. Among recent campaigns: * Alabama Gov.

The call to boycott French wine in retaliation for France's opposition to the war in Iraq put a cork in demand that may have cost millions in sales, researchers said Tuesday. Two Stanford University economists found that weekly sales of French wine dropped an estimated 26% at the peak of the boycott and resulted in a 13% slip for the six months or so that it lasted.

It began as a series of e-mails bouncing around Mexico and Central America, the kind of chain letter a lot of people think of as a nuisance. "Send this message to as many people as possible!" read one sent by a video-rental shop owner in San Salvador to more than 200 clients. "Don't buy anything North American ... No Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's, Burguer [sic] King, Starbucks, Sears, Crispy Cream [sic], Wal-Mart....

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and Roy Romer, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, co-signed a letter to parents this week urging them to keep their children in school Monday, the day immigration activists are advocating a boycott of schools, stores and work. "We are not opposed to student protests after school or on weekends," the letter said. "Missing school is not in the best interest of our children."

Fernando Lopez plans to close his three local Los Angeles-area Oaxacan restaurants for the day Monday after his approximately 50 employees agreed to observe a planned immigrant rights boycott then. "I am an immigrant too. We are all part of the community of Los Angeles and we are very united," said Lopez, 46, adding that his suppliers told him not to expect deliveries Monday.

Los Angeles restaurant worker Jose Mendez says he will risk his job. The 45-year-old illegal immigrant plans to skip work and march for immigrant rights on Monday for one reason: He hopes someday to become a legal resident of the United States. After six years here, he wants to visit the family he left behind in Mexico -- without fear of arrest on his way back.

With planned rallies and a boycott for immigrant rights just days away, rumors are spreading throughout California that \o7la migra \f7is conducting sweeps at bus stops, schools and work sites. The reports of random arrests by immigration agents have caused fear among many illegal immigrants and prompted them to stay close to home. Some said they believe authorities are trying to discourage participation on Monday.