Event: April 10, Charlotte and Beyond

Communities for Comprehensive Immigration Reform in Charlotte is
planning the following April 10 activity:

Day of National Action for Immigrant Justice
April 10 - A Day of No Consumption

Dia de Accion Nacional por los Derechos de los Immigrantes
Abril 10 - Un Dia Sin Consumo

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Adriana Gálvez Taylor
(704) 567-0192

Laura Ciudad
(704) 531-3853

Teresa Villamarín
(704) 334-0053

National Day of Action for the Rights of Immigrants
April 10: A day without consumption

Charlotte, North Carolina (April 4, 2006) – On April 10, 2006,
Communities for Comprehensive Immigration Reform invites the
general public to abstain from purchasing gasoline, food, clothing,
and other consumer items, to abstain from visiting restaurants and
stores, and to not participate in the banking system, etc., except in
the case of a medical emergency.

The objective is to emphasize the economic contribution that
Hispanics (Latinos) are making to Charlotte, NC and its surrounding areas.

It is an opportunity for the community as a whole – Latino and
non-Latino- to participate and support comprehensive immigration reform.

The idea is to demonstrate that Latinos are not only a labor force,
but also an economic one that is deeply integrated into the socioeconomic
fabric of the region.

According to a study conducted by the Kenan Institute and University of
North Carolina of Chapel Hill (UNC), Hispanics (Latinos) contributed more
than $9.2 billion to North Carolina’s economy during the year 2004. In
the same year, their economic contribution to Charlotte-Mecklenburg
equaled $1.8 billion, generating 500 million in commercial profits.

Comprehensive immigration reform will allow these economic contributions
to continue to grow. This will only be possible if the United States
ratifies a new law that is sufficiently broad and comprehensive enough to
resolve the situation of the 12 million undocumented immigrants who
are currently living and working in the USA. Comprehensive immigration
reform should provide reasonable, humane and expeditious immigration
opportunities for their family members and other eligible immigrants
wishing to live and work in the U.S., should offer realistic and
effective immigration alternatives and controls, and promote a path
to citizenship and civic engagement for all immigrants. A bill
favorable to immigrants will also provide opportunities for fair
judicial review and guarantee legal protections.

If value is assigned to what immigrants contribute to the economy,
more value should be given to the human beings who produce that benefit
and who are the least favored under the present system.