Josselyn P.
February, 3, 2009
Mr. Gloyd
Period 3& 4

May 1st is a holiday in Mexico, so you may expect that many in the US would celebrate it in many forms (The Great). On May, 1st, 2006 many immigrant families walk out to the street. All over the United States different states and in different times, the Great American Boycott began. Thousands risked the only job they had, to give a point. Although many like Latino Lawmaker, Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Florida he think differnetly. He says that he understands the purpose but doesn’t feel a boycott "is not the right way to go," (Whitbeck). The May 1st march wasn’t like any other march this one was special and important to the immigrant movement.

Like I’ve mention many states of the United States marched out. But what I haven’t mentioned is that students from Junior High Schools, High Schools, Collages, and maybe even Universities walked out of classes. I say it as a witness but a more reliable source would be my sister Kiara. Kiara was a student from Belvedere Middle School. I am very sure she was in 8th grade at that time. There were many rumors about the Student getting detention, (P.). Lucky these rumors are not true and it is a good thing because if they gave them detention they wouldn’t respect their right of freedom.

Big amounts and smaller amount were experience in many places around the U.S. Some were like in Chicago 300,000 people marches. If this amount seems high to you the mach in Wilshire corridor there were about 400,000 people(Whitbeck). Whitbeck also says 200,000 people marched in Los Angeles, 12,000 combined in 8 marches two in Manhattan, and one for Queens, Brooklyn and Bronx. In San Diego tens of thousands went out and marched (The Great). Sharon Black says that in San Francisco, Dallas, New York, Denver, Las Vegas, Nevada, Colorado, and Miami, Florida; Salem, Oregon; and Portland, Oregon there was marches. About 7.2 millions of illegal immigrants hold jobs in U.S. making up to 4.9 percent of overall labor force (Whitbeck).

Marches started, some at the same time some at different time. In New York it started at 12:16pm, CNN managed to get the exact time in which it started in New York. But in Wilshire Corridor they weren’t very lucky it began on Monday evening (Whitbeck). In the park Union Square Park in Manhattan it started at 4:00 pm (The Great). Black says that in Los Angeles there were two one on Monday morning and Monday Evening. Different time but they all made a difference. After the march Bush said, "….we must remember there are hardworking individuals doing jobs that American will not do who are contributing to the economic vitality of our country" (Black).

Many people during the marches had a very good reason for saying such strong quotes that make you think. For example in the article The Great American Boycott, May 1st, 2006 Dave Gonzales of 22 says “When did you ever see a Mexican blow up the World Trade Center? Who do you think even built the World Trade Center?” in another article it said “Great American Boycott of 2006, No Shopping, No School, No Work” basically what many did May 1st nothing (Black). A some sort of famous of quote is “A day without immigrants” many organizers yelled that during the march (Whitbeck). I am not exactly sure where I read it but it went something like, “Immigrant come to work, but they are not working,” this quote can be negative or positive. If it is positive it’s like saying that they are not doing what they came for but that is not fair because many job require a green card a green card is like a permission to let immigrants work.
Many People experience this wonderful and historical event. This event is significant to me and other people because they want things to change, for the people that have remade their lives here. Many do not agree and want every immigrant to go back where the came from most people that think that way a racial people. Small, big, in the morning, noon, afternoon, and even evening it really doesn’t matter. What matters is that people really want to make a difference. I hope thanks to them there will be a change. What do you think about May 1st was it worth it?


Work Cited

Black, Sharon. “May 1 ‘Great American Boycott of 2006’ for immigrant right gathers momentum.” Workers World. Apr 22, 2006. http://www.workers.rog/2006/us/may-day-0427/ Jan. 15, 2009

P, Kiara. Personal Interview. Jan. 18, 2009.

The Great American Boycott, May 1st , 2006. Nathan Gibbs. May 1st, 2006.
http://www.nathangibbs.com/2006/05/01/the-great-american-boycott-may-1st-2006/ Jan. 25, 2009.

Whitbeck, Harris. “Thousands march for immigrant rights.” CNN.Com. May, 1st, 2006
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/01/immigrant.day/index.html Jan. 25, 2009