Posted on 04/14/2006 9:54:52 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Immigrant-rights advocates demanded Thursday that the nation's largest Spanish-language television network publicly apologize for an e-mail they say was distributed throughout the company asking employees not to participate or promote the planned nationwide "Day Without a Latino" event on May 1.
Plans to boycott Univision Communications Inc. and its affiliates were set to go forth Monday if the demands for a retraction were not met.
Univision did not return phone calls for comment.
The e-mail was distributed at a Riverside meeting by Armando Navarro, a UCR professor and immigration activist, who said that an executive with Univision distributed the memorandum to employees. Navarro would not reveal his source but said that with "100 percent certainty it comes directly from the top."
"We will not be influenced by groups of extremists, agitators or union leaders," stated the e-mail, which was allegedly sent to Univision Radio and television networks. "We need to be very sure the Boycott doesn't bring with it harsh consequences, like increasing the the hate of our own race."
The e-mail allegedly stated that the best way to protest is through the electoral process and further stated that leaving work and keeping children out of school can only do more harm than good.
"The owner of Univision is nothing more than a big Republican supporter," said Yolanda Esquibel, of Riverside, from the audience. "That company has the audacity to tell us how to conduct ourselves."
Navarro, who founded the National Alliance for Human Rights, in Riverside, said plans for the nationwide boycott are growing stronger. He expects millions of people on May 1 not to go to work, attend school or purchase products.
"We are going to hit them where it hurts," Navarro told the crowd in Spanish. "In their pocket books."
Navarro said he was angry that Univision, which helped promote previous protests, was now doing a "180" and speaking out against the Latino people who are its main subscribers and listeners.
Nearly 25 representatives of various Latino-rights organizations voted to boycott Univision starting next week and said they would march to the company's main office in Los Angeles.
"This is an outrage," Navarro said. "We are still investigating the issue, and we expect an answer from Univision by tomorrow."
The Univision company includes television, radio, music and Internet offerings divisions and affiliates nationwide.
Navarro, who has also called for a "Brown out" or "A Day without a Mexicano" on May 1, said that any guest-worker program or plans to enforce HR 4437 will be met with great protest from Latino groups across the nation.
One the morning of May 1 I hear the gentle strains of a spring time classical music piece, perhaps even ode to glory.
No lawnmower waking me up in the 7 am.
No being stuck in traffic behind some jalope without an exhaust system.
I also find it amusing the "latino" illegal advocates are desperate to assign race to something that never has been a race. Ethnic groups as description, yes. Race description? laugable.
Someone ought to tell those organizers that this is not a banana republic, nor is it Cuba or some other socialist workers' paradise. Companies here have the right to require their employees to show up for work, and to fire them if they don't. What those organizers want is to make our country as miserable as the ones they come from. They screwed up their own countries and now they've come here and are trying to screw up ours.
I heard that!...
The more I read, hear or see the 'Latino' demands, the less compassion I have for them, legal or illegal.
All I can say is it is gonna be a long hot summer... but that won't keep more from crossing our borders illegally... and apparently, neither will many of our elected officials.
Did you have a good view of the protests down there last week?
Don Francisco ping!
Have you ever watched their program on Saturday afternoon called Caliente (or "Dancing Half-Naked On the Beach," as my sister and I refer to it)? If you like Don Francisco's girls, you'll love Caliente.
NO LAWN BLOWERS! YYYYEEEEHHHHAAAAWWW!!
No power saw, nail guns or cement mixers from nearby contruction sites waking you up either.
I really wish they'd go ahead and do it. People might realize how much pollution these jokers spit out.
Actually I can only go by the pics that I have seen on the web. I do not watch any of the news stations plus I live in the North where there are few Hispanics, I also live in the country where the people are very patriotic.
I may have gotten you confused with another bunny in the SoCal area. oops. ;-)
Oh yeah, I've seen it! Caliente is Spanish for "Hot." Appropriate name for this Latin version of Soul Train.
(I finally figured that out after reading a warning label on the side of a McDonalds coffee cup in English and Spanish...)
Trouble in another liberal casa, eh? Sounds good to me.
I love it - pass the popcorn!
The owner of Univision is Jerrrold Perenchio who is an opportunist, IMO--throwing millions at whatever party it takes to effect his personal gain.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.