Immigrants Vow To Keep Up Pressure
Illegal immigrants and their supporters vowed to keep up the pressure on Congress for reforms after more than 1 million people stepped out of the shadows and poured into the streets in a U.S.-wide show of economic clout.
From Los Angeles to Chicago, Houston to Miami, a "Day Without Immigrants" Monday meant a day boycotting work and school in favor of rallies and marches that filled streets for miles.
"We have far exceeded our expectations," said Mahonrry Hidalgo, chairman of the Immigration Committee of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey. "The events are intended to show solidarity and, at the same time, send a message that injustice against the immigrant community is unacceptable. This is not the end of our struggle. It is the beginning."
The boycott was organized by immigrant activists angered by federal legislation that would criminalize the nation's estimated 11 million illegal immigrants and fortify the U.S.-Mexico border. Its goal was to raise awareness about immigrants' economic power. CBS News correspondent Byron Pitts says illegal immigrants comprise an estimated 24 percent of farm workers, 17 percent of the cleaning industry, 14 percent of construction and 12 percent of the nation's food service workers.
CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes reports that in Los Angeles County alone, the economic impact of lost wages and lost business could reach as high as 100 million dollars. But, it's Latinos who took the hardest financial hit, losing an estimated $28 million in wages in Los Angeles.
Two major rallies in Los Angeles attracted an estimated 400,000, according to the mayor's office. Pitts reported the impact was felt on Los Angeles' famed 7th Street Market as 85 businesses closed. Police in Chicago estimated 400,000 people marched through the downtown business district.
Tens of thousands more marched in New York, along with up to 30,000 in Houston, 50,000 in San Jose, California, and 30,000 more across Florida. From New Mexico to Tennessee to Massachusetts, smaller rallies attracted hundreds more.
CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella reported from Dodge City, Kan., where 15,000 Hispanic immigrants make up half the area's population. Thousands marched down Main Street, where usually busy Hispanic-owned shops were closed.
In all, police departments in more than two dozen U.S. cities contacted by The Associated Press gave crowd estimates that totaled about 1.1 million marchers.
The mood was jubilant. Marchers standing shoulder-to-shoulder filmed themselves on home video and families sang and chanted and danced in the streets wearing American flags as capes and bandanas. In most cities, those who rallied wore white to signify peace and solidarity.
In Los Angeles, marchers holding U.S. flags aloft sang the national anthem in English as traditional Mexican dancers wove through the crowd.
Rallies in Washington, D.C. were scattered, but the White House took note. Spokesman Scott McClellan said President Bush disapproved of the boycott.
While most demonstrations were peaceful, a rally of 5,000 in Santa Ana, California, was marred by people hurling rocks and plastic bottles at officers. Police made several arrests, but it was unclear if they were protesters.
In Chicago, illegal immigrants from Ireland and Poland marched alongside Hispanic as office workers on lunch breaks clapped. In Phoenix, protesters formed a human chain in front of Wal-Mart and Home Depot stores. Protesters in Tijuana, Mexico, blocked vehicle traffic heading to San Diego.
Many carried signs in Spanish that translated to "We are America" and "Today we march, tomorrow we vote." Others waved Mexican flags or wore hats and scarves from their native countries. Some chanted "USA" while others shouted slogans, such as "Si se puede!" Spanish for "Yes, it can be done!" Others were more irreverent, wearing T-shirts that read "I'm illegal. So what?"
Industries that rely on immigrant workers were clearly affected, though the impact was not uniform.
Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, shuttered about a dozen of its more than 100 plants and saw "higher-than-usual absenteeism" at others. Most of the closures were in states such as Iowa and Nebraska.
Goya Foods, which bills itself as the nation's largest Hispanic-owned food chain, suspended delivery everywhere except Florida in what the company called a gesture of solidarity.
None of the 175 seasonal laborers who normally work Mike Collins' 500 acres of Vidalia onion fields in southeastern Georgia showed up.
"We need to be going wide open this time of year to get these onions out of the field," he said. "We've got orders to fill. Losing a day in this part of the season causes a tremendous amount of problems."
Pitts reports that unlike last month's wave of demonstrations, politicians didn't simply take notice, many also showed up Monday.
"The problem is we've been engaging in hypocrisy in this country," Sen. Barak Obama, D-Ill., told Pitts. "We don't mind these folks mowing our lawns, looking after our children or serving us at restaurants, as long as they don't actually ask for any rights in return."
CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss reports that Republicans who want to crack down on illegal immigration say these protests backfire and only make their supporters more determined.
Meanwhile, immigration legislation on Capitol Hill is stalled, and for the moment going no where, Fuss reported. A harsh enforcement-only bill –the initial trigger for Monday's demonstrations – has passed the House but nothing has passed the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., told CBS News' The Early Show that the Senate is addressing immigration reform and says he will bring back "comprehensive reform in about two weeks — comprehensive reform that starts by tightening our borders."
"Then also address the fact that we have 12 million people in this country today, we don't know who they are," Frist added. "They're in the shadows, and we need to devise a plan to bring them out of the shadows, short of amnesty, but treats them in a fair and compassionate way."