Posted on 04/27/2006 5:01:26 PM PDT by pulaskibush
Apr 25, 7:36 PM EDT
Ark. Hispanic groups plan rallies, not boycott, for May 1
By DANIEL CONNOLLY Associated Press Writer
LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Demonstrations in favor of giving illegal immigrants a chance at legal status are scheduled in De Queen, Little Rock and Springdale next Monday, three weeks after rallies in those cities attracted thousands of people.
But some organizers in Arkansas say they won't support calls by national groups for immigrants to show their economic power Monday by not working or shopping.
"We are not supporting or against that (boycott)," said Margarita Solorzano, one of the organizers of the Springdale event. "We are going to concentrate on the vigil." Demonstrators plan to hold a candlelight vigil at a Springdale park starting at 6:30 p.m., a time intended to allow workers and students to attend.
Another organizer of the Springdale event, Alejandro Aviles, said the group plans to stress that children should go to school to talk with their peers about immigration and that anyone who chooses to stay home from work should ask permission in advance. That message was echoed by Springdale-based Tyson Foods, a meat company that employs many Hispanics. "While we understand the sentiment behind the May 1 events and support comprehensive immigration reform, we are not encouraging workers to participate in the rallies," company spokesman Gary Mickelson said in a statement. "We are asking workers not to take any unauthorized time off and instead seek pre-approval from their supervisor or participate during non-work hours."
A coalition planning a rally in Little Rock also isn't encouraging a boycott. "We tell them to come to the march and to fight for legislation that will address the problem," said Neil Sealy, head organizer with ACORN, a community activist group involved in planning the demonstration.
Protesters plan to march through downtown Little Rock and rally at the state Capitol, Sealy said. The group is encouraging people to ask their employers for time off to attend the 3 p.m. rally. "We're also urging students to ask their school officials - and we're urging school officials to allow kids to leave early and be part of the march," he said. "It's a great civics lesson."
Organizers didn't want to hold the event later in the day because of concerns that fewer people would see it, he said.
About 2,000 people attended a similar rally in Little Rock April 10. In Springdale, a crowd was estimated at 3,000 to 5,000 that day.
Radio announcer Jose Antonio Gochez of Spanish-language radio station KAKS-FM said the Fayetteville station had played a major role in drawing people to the events. "I think it's the same role that the media have been playing at the national level," he said. "I believe we're part of the Hispanic society and we also have to encourage it."
Another demonstration is scheduled Monday at a park in De Queen, said Fernando Lopez, an employee at St. Barbara Catholic Church, which has a large Hispanic congregation.
Arkansans opposed to softening rules on illegal immigration have been outspoken in newspaper letters to the editor and on talk radio, but public demonstrations have been small.
A handful of counter-protesters attended the Little Rock rally April 10, and a new group called Patriots On Watch has held demonstrations in northwest Arkansas. Three people from the group picketed a Tyson Foods facility Monday, saying they didn't want it to hire illegal immigrants.
Tyson Foods says it doesn't hire illegal immigrants. "We have a zero tolerance policy for employing people who are not authorized in the U.S.," Mickelson said. "And that's why we use all available tools provided by the U.S. government to verify the documents of the people we hire."
Patriots On Watch plans another rally for May 6, said Jody Franks of Alma, one of four truck drivers who started the group. "We do not hate anyone, it's not that issue," he said. "We just want them to be taken and picked up and put back in their own country."
Franks said illegal immigration is draining medical and other resources. He also said he's against legal immigration. "That needs to be shut down," he said. "Our borders need to be shut down and don't let nobody in."
Right-on
Well they think they can fool some of the people some of the time.
We're on to them we know their agenda.
Socialist, marxist liberal agenda.
I continue on not-so-slow burn over this. I hope America is focused on Washington,DC because what they come out with in the way of a ILLEGAL immigration bill, will clearly show what they are all about, and how much they listen to the majority WILL OF THE PEOPLE, our laws, our Constitution, our soverignty, our citizenship, etc.
This is ugly.
They were holding signs saying "We are America". Apparently forgettting that they are not sworn citizens.
I guess Tyson wouldn't give them a day off with pay...
Arkansas Ping
Tyson Foods has a bus bring illegals each week to arkansas...
Tyson swears on a stack of dead chickens that they don't hire illegal aliens. (Smirk!)
Tyson Foods says it doesn't hire illegal immigrants. "We have a zero tolerance policy for employing people who are not authorized in the U.S.," Mickelson said. "And that's why we use all available tools provided by the U.S. government to verify the documents of the people we hire."
We will see if our local Catholic High School students take advantage of "a great civics lesson."..
sw
Hispanic tally doubles. Arkansas
"The Hispanic population in Springdale doubled from 2000 to 2005 and now makes up one third of Springdales total population of 62, 459, according to figures released by the U. S. Census Bureau. In 2000, Hispanics accounted for 20 percent of Springdales population, then 45, 798."
It's been estimated that there are over 75,000 immigrants in Arkansas..probably closer to 100,000.
Eat Seafood!
sw
Our company (Tyson) is a member of the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition
(EWIC), and supports guest worker provisions and a process for
undocumented workers already in the U.S. to be able to earn permanent
legal status.
http://tinyurl.com/jhc4u
******
Tyson Busted for Exploiting Illegal Immigrants in Poultry Factories
U.S. charges Tyson Foods with immigrant smuggling
Wednesday December 19, 5:35 PM EST
By Jim Vicini
WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Tyson Foods Inc. (TSN), the world's
largest poultry processor, two of the firm's executives and four former
managers have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to smuggle illegal
immigrants to work at its U.S. plants as a way to boost profits, the
Justice Department said on Wednesday.
http://tinyurl.com/mm2t7
Tyson Says Top Bosses Didn't Know
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Feb. 7, 2003
(AP) Prosecutors played secret tapes Thursday of a man described as a manager at Tyson Foods arranging for the delivery of hundreds of illegal immigrants from an undercover agent posing as a smuggler.
"Hell, I put over 700 people to work," said the man on the tape, whom prosecutors identified as plant manager Robert Sanford. "I'm going to need to replace 300 or 400 people - maybe 500. I'm going to need a lot."
http://tinyurl.com/q4w7d
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
POEM - Illegal Immigrants
I cross ocean,
poor and broke,
Take bus,
see employment folk.
Nice man
treat me good in there,
Say I need
go see Welfare.
Welfare say,
"You come no more,
We send cash
right to your door."
Welfare checks,
they make you wealthy,
Medicaid
it keep you healthy!
By and by,
Got plenty money,
Thanks to you,
TAXPAYER dummy.
Write to friends
in motherland,
Tell them
'come, fast as you can'
They come in turbans
and Ford trucks,
I buy big house
with welfare bucks.
They come here,
we live together,
More welfare checks,
it gets better!
Fourteen families,
they moving in,
But neighbor's patience
wearing thin.
Finally, white guy
moves away,
. .
I buy his house,
and then I say,
"Find more aliens
for house to rent."
In my yard
I put a tent.
Send for family
they just trash,
...
But they, too,
draw welfare cash!
Everything is
very good,
Soon we own
whole neighborhood.
We have hobby
it called breeding,
Welfare pay
for baby feeding.
Kids need dentist?
Wife need pills?
We get free!
We got no bills!
TAXPAYER crazy!
He pay all year,
To keep welfare
running here.
We think America
darn good place!
Too darn good
for white man race.
If they no like us,
they can scram,
Got lots of room
in Pakistan.
Tyson Foods is a bald-faced lying SOS. - OB1
watch out....I think the Fema offical in arkansas got fired for emailing that poem. funny thing is that poem comes from LA RAZA
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