This story is taken from Politics at sacbee.com.
Boycott planned as Senate falters on immigration
By Michael Doyle -- Bee Washington Bureau
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, April 5, 2006
WASHINGTON - Immigrant advocates called Tuesday for a nationwide boycott of jobs and schools on May 1, even as senators appeared stymied in their efforts to finish the immigration bill that's provoking controversy.
The proposed "Great American Boycott of 2006" is being organized by some of the same activists who rallied an estimated half-million demonstrators in Los Angeles on March 25. Now, in a bid to show nationwide clout, they want immigrants and supporters to avoid work, school, buying and selling on May 1.
"We realize that we have been absent from the political debate in Washington, although we are the voices of those most affected by the legislation," Juan Jose Gutierrez, director of Latino Movement USA, said at a Washington news conference.
The nationwide boycott is also being organized through the ANSWER Coalition, whose member groups range from the Free Palestine Alliance to the Party for Socialism and Liberation and the Korea Truth Coalition.
The boycott, along with nationwide rallies scheduled for Monday, represents the loudest aspect of a debate that has meandered on Capitol Hill for the past week. On Tuesday, despite some ongoing Republican compromise negotiations, increasingly irritated senators acknowledged they lack the 60 votes necessary to pass legislation.
"I'm very frustrated right now," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist conceded early Tuesday evening, adding, "We're making no progress whatsoever."
Eight hours of debate Tuesday, interrupted by frequent quorum calls, did not result in any substantive progress and yielded only one, symbolic, vote.
One hundred amendments still await action, prompting some senators - including Republican John Cornyn of Texas - to suggest that the Senate might have to postpone action until after a two-week April recess now scheduled to start Saturday. Throughout most of Tuesday, Democrats used the Senate's procedural rules to block voting on amendments.
About the writer:
The Bee's Michael Doyle can be reached at (202) 383-0006 or mdoyle@mcclatchydc.com.
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Hello Mr. Doyle,
Your article as published today in the Sacramento Bee with the headline Boycott planned as Senate falters on immigration has a serious problem.
To say that the national boycott is being organized through the Answer Coalition is not accurate.
It is most unfortunate that you published this claim. Please do some considerable checking prior to repeating it.
Sincerely,
Dr. Duane E. Campbell
Professor
CSU-Sacramento
author;
Choosing Democracy: a practical guide to multicultural education. (2004) Merrill/Prentice Hall.
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