Local Hispanics Take a Stand on Immigration: Pass on Punching Clock to Protest

"El Gran Paro Americano 2006" that means "The Great American Boycott 2006"...and millions of Hispanic-Americans are expected to participate tomorrow. Millions of immigrants are calling for a nation-wide walkout and many local hispanic employees plan to join that fight. Monday is Mexico`s Labor Day and local grocer Enrique Cortez says it`s very similar to the American version. He said, "We`ll cook, we eat, we drink and sometimes we`ll dance." But on this particular Labor Day millions of documented and undocumented immigrants won`t punch the clock to prove a point. "We work, we pay rent, we pay taxes. We do everything American`s do including make money and spend it." The protest is called "A Day without Immigrants" because they will not work, go to school or sell goods. They also won`t be opening up their wallets. They hope to prove how much their money matters by not buying American products. The nationwide goal is to show that immigrants from coast to coast are a vital part of America`s economy. Triumph Foods employees say the St. Joseph plant won`t be processing its pork products because so many Hispanic employees plan to protest. Many of those employees shop here at the El Mexicano grocery store. Co-owner Christa Bautista-Cortez says the immigration issue is a hot topic among their customers. Bautista-Cortez said, "Most of my customers won`t work tomorrow not because of Labor Day but because they want America to see what it would be like for hispanics to not work, not buy anything for one day." The protests are in response to a proposal that would make it a felony for immigrants to be in the United States illegally. The Senate is still debating the issue but the store, its owners and many of their customers have already taken a stance. Customer Nancy Lopez said, "There`s a lot of immigrants that just want to work for their families they just want to work for their kids to give them a better life over here. It`s the american dream." Rallies and events are scheduled in at least 68 cities in 23 states. So far nothing is planned in St. Joseph, but many of the hispanic employees KQ2 spoke to plan on participating in Kansas City`s protests.