All across the country May 1, people will be wearing white shirts and not buying things- That’s right, Monday is the Day Without an Immigrant Boycott. With over 2 million strong, will South Asian Americans make a difference if we all boycotted? A doctor that calls in sick, a taxi worker that stays home, a professor that cancels class? Though not as numerous as other immigrant communities, these days we can be positive that there is a South Asian American representing in almost all lines of business and a boycott by our people will make a mark in a lot of industries.
Choosing May Day for this boycott is significant in itself – it is International Workers Day, and 120 years ago was the mark of bloody riots for workers rights.
In 1884, the U.S. Federation of Organized Trade and Labor Unions had passed a law declaring that, as of May 1, 1886, an eight hour workday would be the full and legal workday for all U.S. workers – the administration had that much time to recognize this new law and put into effect. The factory, workplace and corporation owners refused.On May 1, 1886, workers took to the streets in a general strike throughout the entire country to force the administration to recognize the eight-hour working day. Over 350,000 workers across the country directly participated in the general strike, with hundreds of thousands of workers joining the marches.
In what they would later call the Haymarket riots, during the continuing strike action on May third in Chicago, the epicenter of the U.S. labor movement at that time, the Chicago police opened fire on the unarmed striking workers at the McCormick Reaper Works, killing six workers and wounding untold numbers.[link]
May 1st here in Los Angeles, there will be a group of South Asians taking part in the boycott at MacArthur Park at 3:00pm – listen for the sounds of the dhol to see where the desis at. I highly encourage you to organize (& post in SM events tab if you do!) your own posse of desis to take part in the activities all across the nation. Take pictures and send them to us. If you are able to take off work or school, please do it on behalf of the rest of the desi immigrants who can’t because a day without work would be too big of a loss. I know we’ve been discussing the debate here for the past few weeks, but it’s because when Congress goes back into session this week, this will be at the top of their agenda. Let’s make sure the South Asian voice is heard in the debate.
Gaurav,
I hope you’ve read #222 which is addressed specifically to you, for slandering me, you punk.
Regards
i wuzn’t dissing. just wondering y u were going all fonetic.
i think such “menial” acts are important in building the character of citizens.
I call socialist!!! [redbait]! [redbait]! [random anti-Muslim statement]!
In any case, the trouble with these analyses that talk about taking care of “our” poor before “others'” poor is that the distinction is wholly artificial in material terms: people either have things or they don’t. They either have malaria medication or they don’t. They either have food or they don’t. Etc. So to argue this issue without looking at it in a transnational context is a problem, I think, and threatens to entangle you in imperialism and whatnot–which is part of the problem to begin with. That doesn’t mean that on an emotional level you can’t be more attached to people in your own state–and it would be odd if you weren’t given how much energy is put into making you that way–but that ought not really enter into a rational policy discussion.
As it turns out, one of the best ways of assisting economic development in the developing world is to allow working class people from there to come to the U.S., make money, and send it back. It’s a huge percentage of foreign income, and it doesn’t really cost people anything. If you’re concerned about workers’ rights in the U.S., make sure that the people who come here are guaranteed workers’ rights and that there isn’t an artificial surplus of workers created in order to keep prices down. The best way to do this is not to fortify the border, but to let people go back and forth–because unless forced to, most people don’t actually like to leave home forever and not talk to their kids.
Xenophobes need not reply. (unless you get the joke)
gaurav — shut up. your post does not directly respond to or contradicts anything i’ve said. and please forgive me if i don’t put forth my thoughts in thesis format.
razib — my dad loves to do yard work, sometimes he’ll hire a day laborer for help but he hates doing that and takes much pride in his dogwoods. so yes, I see that the work will get done.
Also, I would hate to see the Saudi model take shape here where the ‘citizens’ are one strata and immigrant labor does all the menial work.
Note that I’ve said while I would love for open borders to be workable, I’m happy with immigration being tied to the business cycle. i don’t have any major problems with your post 247. i generally enjoy your posts and your data — but your references to obscure history sometimes puzzle me.
Espressa (254#)
How many times were you dropped on your head as a child.
Regards
I have a great idea. Legalise the current illegal aliens and then build an impenetrable 50 metre high wall along the border US/Mexican. Win-win situation that caters to both left and right.
Gaurav:
please don’t think that by using capital letters all the time or writing ‘Regards’ at the end of you non-issue focussed posts that people can’t tell that you are being insulting, immature and pathetic in the way you address people like CHEAP ASS DESI and ESPRESSA.
if you really cannot find anything to talk about in the main points of CA’s and espressa’s argument, resorting to lame-ass insults like the last one is really not gonna be helping you.
Please learn to argue like an adult and respect others and then maybe people will respect you too.
Until then your passive-agressive ‘Regards’ that follows each ridiculous insult/name-calling episode on topics ranging from rhetorical ability to pimples to babies being dropped on heads should really just stay in your head, because that’s the only place where such comments are appreciated.
Bengali (256#)
So, you are as tired of this thread as 85% of participants 😉
Regards
tashie — thanks =)
gaurav — if you’re tired, don’t respond. if you want to insult me just to insult me, do it by email. i’m going to close my laptop now, but i’ll respond first thing in the morning.
if you want to contest a point or show off for your friends on this blog, carry on. but don’t blame my upbringing. any foolishness is soley my own doing.