300 Immigrant Workers and Students Plan Store Shutdown in Downtown Crossing to Launch A “Day Without Immigrants” on May 1st, 2017
Movimiento Cosecha hosts a national assembly to plan and launch a series of boycotts and strikes, in order to win permanent protection from deportation, dignity and respect for all 11 million undocumented immigrants.
Boston, MA - On Saturday, February 11th, hundreds of immigrant workers, parents, and youth from across the country will shut down a retail store in downtown Boston in order to highlight the consumer power of immigrants. The main demonstration will consist of a Salsa Shutdown, in which hundreds will dance through the store capturing consumers’ attention. This action will formally inaugurate Movimiento Cosecha’s May Day campaign, launching decentralized preparations for a one-day national “Day Without Immigrants” strike on May 1st, 2017.
Movimiento Cosecha’s National Assembly, taking place February 10–12, brings immigrant rights activists from across the country together for a 3-day series of trainings and action planning sessions, to coordinate upcoming migrant-led boycotts and strikes under the theme “Un Dia Sin Inmigrantes” (A Day Without Immigrants).
Through boycotts and strikes, Movimiento Cosecha seeks to demonstrate to the American public that this country cannot operate without its workforce, which is primarily composed of immigrants and poor people. If we choose mass non-cooperation- by not going to work, not buying products and not going to school- then we believe we can generate enough leverage to win permanent protection, dignity and respect for all immigrants in the country regardless who is president. After their one-day strike on May 1st, Cosecha will continue planning and building momentum for a 7-day strike.
“Now more than ever, it is important for the immigrant rights movement to have an offensive strategy,” said Maria Fernanda Cabello, a spokesperson for Movimiento Cosecha. “While it is important to focus on protecting undocumented families like mine from deportation and protecting our victories such as DACA, our movement can not win unless we show the American public that this country depends on immigrant labor to function. We are switching the conversation from ‘Are immigrants wanted?’ to ‘Are immigrants needed? We cannot live like this anymore and the immigrant community is ready to show this country what would happen without us.”