CA State Senate declares May 1 to be the "Great American Boycott 2006"; Republicans object

SACRAMENTO
State Senate adds voice to anti-immigration bill boycott
Republicans accuse Democrats of urging kids to skip school

Greg Lucas, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau
Friday, April 28, 2006

Sacramento -- Over objections by Republicans, the state Senate approved a resolution Thursday recognizing a boycott of schools and workplaces on Monday to protest proposed federal immigration legislation.

Approved on a 23-14 vote by the 40-member Senate, the resolution has no force of law. It merely cites the contributions immigrants have made to California and its economy, and declares May 1 to be the "Great American Boycott 2006."

Supporters of the national boycott urge people not to go to work or to school and not shop. The genesis came from opposition to the House-passed immigration bill seeking to make it a felony to be in the United States illegally.

The resolution is careful not to advocate skipping school or work and does not mention the bills pending in Congress.

"This is a national call to action to peacefully demonstrate the contributions immigrants have made to this nation," said Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, in urging her fellow senators to support her resolution.

Latino lawmakers likened the boycott to civil rights marches and protests of the 1960s saying sometimes civil disobedience is necessary to end an injustice.

"We are a nation of ever-changing laws. Slavery. It was legal. It was wrong. We changed that law," said Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles. "Let's acknowledge our history and tradition of social change."

Rallies are scheduled Monday in major cities in California and across the country.

Republicans opposed the bill for various reasons.

"It is irresponsible for the Legislature to advocate students leave school for any reason," said Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks (Sacramento County).

Students can protest before or after school, Cox suggested.

State school Superintendent Jack O'Connell and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have publicly urged parents to send their children to school Monday.

O'Connell noted that state aid to public schools is based on attendance and districts pay a financial penalty for unexcused student absences.

"I will not support requests for waivers from school districts for money lost due to students walking out of school to protest," O'Connell said in three speeches delivered Thursday.

"Our students can't afford to miss school. Our schools can't afford missing students. And our state can't afford to rest for one day until we close the gap in achievement that threatens the futures of many of our immigrant students," O'Connell said.

Because the resolution doesn't mention illegal immigration, Republican senators complained it skirted addressing the main issue in the debate.

"The so-called Great American Boycott of 2006 is designed to bring attention to bills before the Congress," said Sen. Bill Morrow, R-Oceanside (San Diego County). "The term 'illegal' -- nowhere is that to be found."

The Assembly adjourned without taking up the measure.