The Great American Boycott

Boycott in support of immigrants and immigration

  • The Great American Boycott
  • - Wear white
  • - Avoid spending money all day
  • - Participate in rallies - click on your area:
  • New England
  • New York, New Jersey
  • Mid Atlantic
  • South East
  • Gulf Coast
  • Midwest
  • South West
  • Northwest & Alaska
  • Northern California & Hawaii
  • Southern California
  • Students & Youth
  • Contact Congress
  • The NODD Blog
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Immigrants contribute $240 billion to our Gross National Product every year, including contributing $7 billion in Social Security annually. They contribute to the U.S. economy $25 billion more than they receive in healthcare and other social services. The anti-immigrant politicians and hatemongers say, 'immigrants are a drain on society.' It's time to prove them wrong. It's time to make our voices heard, in support of immigrants and in support of immigration.

The nationwide coalition of pro-immigrant groups is calling for a general strike, a boycott to show the economic power of immigrants and their supporters, and to show the political power of our combined voices. The basics of the boycott:

No Work, No School, No Sales, and No Buying.

There will be rallies around symbols of economic trade in your area (stock exchanges, anti-immigrant corporations, and other public places). Wear white as the symbol of unity. And avoid as much spending as you can on Monday, May 1.

Together, a million voices will be heard, and will make a difference. We believe with numbers we have power, the power currently necessary to keep the pressure on the White House to propose provisions that are just and fair for all immigrants.

If the anti-immigrant politicians and hatemongers are right, that 'immigrants are a drain on society,' the stock market will surge, and the economy will boom. If not, we prove them wrong once and for all. We know what will happen!

We will settle for nothing less than full amnesty and dignity for the millions of undocumented workers presently in the U.S. We believe that increased enforcement is a step in the wrong direction and will only serve to facilitate more tragedies along the Mexican-U.S. border in terms of deaths and family separation.

* * *

Not One Damn Dime supports the Great American Boycott. The news reports leading up to May 1 have emphasized the 'split' among organizers. There is no split -- all pro-immigrant groups support a large-scale protest on May 1. Many groups differ on tactics, especially whether it's effective to avoid work and school on May 1. But all groups are unified in support of recognition of the contribution of immigrants, and in support of improving immigrant rights.

We recommend you do what you can on Monday, May 1st. Stay home from work or school if you feel that will be effective. If you go to work, wear white, to show solidarity. Avoid spending as much as possible. Attend rallies in your area. If nothing else, wear a white armband, so people will ask about it, and you can spread the word about the Great American Boycott.

Read more in the press about the protest activities and nationwide impact below. Then click on the link for your part of the country in the list above, to find where rallies are being held. And spread the word that 'All People Are Legal.'

The first Not One Damn Dime Day garnered participation by several million people, and our voices were heard by tens of millions more, protesting conservative Republican policies. The May 1st protest focuses on immigration policies, and we support the method of economic boycott, as well as the goals of immigration reform in favor of more immigration rights.


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Press reports - before the event

  • Associated Press
  • Seattle Times
  • Indy Bay, Berkeley, CA
  • New America Media, Los Angeles
  • Time magazine
  • Reuters

Press reports - after the event

  • Forbes Magazien "1 Million Immigrants Skip Work for Rally"
  • Seattle Times "Jubilant marchers grab nation's attention"
  • Boston Globe "Cities, businesses feel effects of boycotts"
  • Chicago Sun-Times "Closings across the country"
  • ABC News "1M Immigrants Skip Work for Demonstration"
  • New York Times "Immigrants Take to US Streets in Show of Strength"
  • MSN Australia "Thousands rally for 'Day Without Immigrants'"
  • Reuters "Immigrants flex economic muscle in US boycott"
  • The Guardian (U.K.) "US counts cost of day without immigrants"
  • MTV "Thousands Take To The Streets For 'A Day Without Immigrants'"
  • Los Abgelse Times "Immigrants Take Economic Impact to the Streets"


Organization Links

  • NoHR4437.org - The Great American Boycott originators
    Flyers in English, Spanish, Chinese

  • Industrial Workers of the World union

  • Immigrant Solidarity
    Wear white shirts, or white armbands

  • MIRA Coalition
    Boston organizers

  • Indy Media
    Organizers in Seattle, L.A. and San Francisco

  • International Action Center
    NYC organizers

  • Video clips
    Public Service Announcements about the boycott


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