A 2 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, May 2, 2006 Boycotts mark nationwide day of protests Immigrants walk off jobs, into streets to show economic clout LOS ANGELES (AP) - Hundreds of thousands mostly Hispanic immigrants skipped work and took to t streets yesterday, flexing their newfound political muscle a nationwide boycott that succeeded in slowing or shuttir many farms, factories, markets and restaurants. From Los Angeles to Chicago, New Orleans to Housto the "Day Without Immigrants" attracted widespread panic pation despite divisions among activists over whether a bo cott would send the right message to Washington lawmake considering sweeping immigration reform. "I want my children to know their mother is not a crim nal," said Benita Olmedo, a nanny who came to the Unit States illegally in 1986 from Mexico and pulled her 11-yea old daughter and seven-year-old son from school to march San Diego. "I want them to be as strong I am. This shows o strength." Police estimated 300,000 people marched through Ch sago's business district, and hundreds of thousands mo were expected at rallies in New York and Los Angele Smaller rallies were planned in more than 50 other citi( across the nation. In heavily Hispanic Perth Amboy, N.J., a normally bu ting business district was quiet and still. Block after bloc of record shops, cafes and produce stores were shutteri of lhe in ng )n, ci- iy- rs ai- , ed gr- in cur li- re Is. es is- ,k on the usually traffic-choked street. In the Los Angeles area, normally bustling restaurants and markets were dark and truckers avoided the nation's largest shipping port. About one in three small businesses was closed downtown, including the cluttered produce market and fash- ion district. Industries that rely on immigrant workers were clearly affected, though the impact was not uniform. Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, shut- tered about a dozen of its more than 100 plants and saw "high- er-than-usual absenteeism" at others. Most of the closures were in states such as Iowa and Nebraska. Eight of 14 Perdue Farms chicken plants also closed for the day. Organizers of the rallies instructed protesters to wear white and bring American flags to symbolize peaceful intentions and love of the United States. Many carried signs in Spanish that translated to "We are America" and "Today we march, tomorrow we vote." Others waved Mex- ican flags or wore hats and scarves from their native coun- tries. Some chanted "USA" while others shouted slogans, such as "Si se puede!," Spanish for "Yes, it can be done!" "We are the backbone of what America is - legal or ille- gal - it doesn't matter," said Melanie Lugo, who was among thousands attending a rally in Denver with her husband and their third-grade daughter. "We butter each other's bread. They need us as much as we n-rthm" c cnr .~ T~. /7 ed nA demonstrator rallies in downtown Los Angeles yesterday. Thousands of Illegal See BOYCOTT, page 3 immigrants and supporters boycotted work and shopping to flex economic strength. M UNSON Continued from page 1 said he aims to integrate more inter- disciplinary projects at the undergrad- 420 Maynard Sr Ai Arbor, MI48109-1327 nate level and to increase research EEM D v ins michigandaily canIs LY opportuinties.Eio nCifDsns/iac sse "I think we've got a very capable Editor in Chief Business/Finance Manager student body that is looking to do more davidson@michigandaily.com business@michigandaily.com ALUMNIASSOCIATION than just coursework Munson said. 647'3336 764-0558 UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAs Sun.-Thwrs. 5 p.m. - 2 a.mMon.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 1.m. 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