Immigration activists call for May 1 boycott

California protest coalition plans repeat of national event in 2006

NBC Video: Politics

Obama praises Iraq's new election law
Nov. 8: President Obama congratulates the Iraqi parliament's for passing a much-delayed election law.

Obama: 'Now it falls on the United States Senate'

Brooks, Dionne on Obama's leadership

Gen. Casey: We'll 'take a hard look at ourselves’

Election a referendum on Obama?

House health bill passes

Abortion key to health vote

Week Ahead: Congress' prescription

Slideshow

The Week in Political Cartoons
Msnbc.com’s political cartoonists take a look back at the past week.

more photos

updated 2:41 p.m. ET April 10, 2007

LOS ANGELES - Immigration activists are calling for a repeat of last year’s boycott and massive marches for immigrants’ rights that drew more than 1 million people to the streets in dozens of cities nationwide.

The so-called “Great American Boycott II” is being planned for May 1, organizers for the March 25 Coalition said Monday. The group is made up of immigrant rights organizations and others who frequently plan rallies around the country.

Last year’s demonstrations, on May 1, temporarily shuttered businesses and schools across the country as people took to the streets in Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and other cities.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

The boycott was fueled by anger over federal legislation that would have criminalized being in the country in illegally and fortified the U.S.-Mexico border. The goal was to raise awareness about immigrants’ economic power.

The legislation later stalled in Congress. A compromise plan floated last month would grant work visas to illegal immigrants but require them to return home and pay hefty fines before being allowed to com back and become legal U.S. residents.

Recent protests have not attracted as many supporters as last year’s demonstrations. A rally last weekend in Los Angeles drew about 10,000 people, compared to the half-million who marched last May.

Javier Rodriguez, one of the “Great American Boycott II” organizers, declined to predict how many people might participate. He said recent raids on illegal immigrants have created fear within the community and could lower the turnout.

The March 25 Coalition is named for demonstrations in Los Angeles on March 25, 2006, that drew about half a million people to the streets demanding greater rights for illegal immigrants.