One subject, two views

Local Hispanic leaders had called upon Valley hispanics to observe a one-day boycott in Phoenix this past Tuesday. The effort was designed to be a response to measures in the state such as Proposition 200 passed in November of last year and requires presentation of proof-of-citizenship when you register to vote.

Additionally, the state legislature is considering additional measures that Hispanic leaders believe are unfairly targeting hispanic minorities. Measures would include provisions that disallow illegal immigrants from attending adult education classes or receiving child-care assistance. Others would force illegals to pay out-of-state tuition in the state university system, something the vast majority cannot afford.

Tuesday's proposed boycott of work and shopping activity were designed to make a statement about the impact that hispanics have 'in the market' here and to protest Prop 200 and these other legislative proposals. To what success?

Well, based on a quick read of the local paper that is up for debate. There were two pieces in yesterday's paper that attempted a quick post-mortem on the boycott. The first proclaimed that, "Organizers of an economic boycott asking Hispanics not to go to work or spend money on Tuesday say the day was a success, drawing thousands of people in support.

Although businesses around the Valley for the most part did not come to a stop, Hispanics gave up lunching out or shopping in support of the boycott.The boycott was a response to dozens of measures pending in the state Legislature that propose restrictions on undocumented immigrants.

Hispanics who could afford it or believed it was worth missing a day of pay showed up at rallies instead of work. "It couldn't have gone any better. It was more than I expected," said organizer Elias Bermudez, executive director of Centro de Ayuda (Center of Help), which assists immigrants in filling out immigration and tax documents."

The other says "A one-day economic boycott designed to keep Hispanics away from work and out of stores appeared to fizzle in Scottsdale on Tuesday. Representatives of golf courses, hotels and construction companies said their Hispanic workers turned up as usual."

I suppose it depends on who you're listening to and where they speak from. But I suppose also that there really is no clear way to measure it; these are all anecdotal pieces of evidence and not anything you can make clear-cut declarations about.

At the end of the day, I'm left wondering just how successful any boycott can really expect to be...