RICHARD A. FREEMAN
Burbank
Boycott will awaken a 'sleeping giant'
I think the "boycott" last Monday will have a big effect ? only one that the organizers didn't intend to have ("Locals engage in boycott," May 3 ). They were right in one thing they said ? "a sleeping giant is being awakened." That is the American people, who've been silent or passive about illegal immigration and pressing our government to enforce the laws of our country. I, for one, am one of those.
I work in the garment industry ? the vortex of employing illegal immigrants. I am appalled and insulted by those, as in your article and out there in these protests, who are standing with their people. If they want to be with their people, go back to where they are from. I am a second generation of legal immigrants, I have good friends who are immigrants and have gone through the long, legal process of becoming U.S. citizens.
My brother was murdered over 20 years ago, here in Burbank, shot by an illegal alien who was negligent on keeping up on car payments. My brother was a tow truck driver who was repossessing the car for the bank, which held the lien.
I don't reflect that on every illegal immigrant but I believe when you break the law of the land, starting out in a new country illegally, that that leaves other laws to be ignored and of little meaning.
May 1 was chosen for a reason to the ignorance of most of these people.
I, for one, went out and shopped all day and enjoyed participating in the capitalism of my country supporting every business I went to. I will not support those businesses that gave their people the day off to participate in the boycott ? Hill Street Cafe, Dona Maria Mexican Restaurant, and Pepe's ? they don't deserve my business. Ironically, those businesses that suffered on Monday were the ones mostly in the Latin community. How sad!
