Above Photo: Josiah Werning
Movimiento Cosecha hosts a national assembly to plan and launch a series of boycotts and strikes, in order to win permanent protection from deportation, dignity and respect for all 11 million undocumented immigrants.
Boston, MA – On Friday, February 10th, hundreds of immigrant workers, parents, and youth from across the country will gather in Boston for a 3-day national assembly. The goal is to plan a series of migrant-led boycotts and strikes under the theme “Un Dia Sin Inmigrantes” (A Day Without Immigrants). Cosecha announced the first national day of boycotts and strikes on May Day (5/1/17) and will continue building towards a 7-day strike.
Through boycotts and strikes, Cosecha seeks to demonstrate to the American public that this country cannot operate without its workforce, which is primarily composed of immigrants and poor people. If we choose mass non-cooperation- by not going to work, not buying products and not going to school- then we believe we can generate enough leverage to win permanent protection, dignity and respect for all immigrants in the country regardless who is president.
“Now more than ever, it is important for the immigrant rights movement to have an offensive strategy,” said Maria Fernanda Cabello, a spokesperson for Movimiento Cosecha. “While it is important to focus on protecting undocumented families like mine from deportation and protecting our victories such as DACA, our movement can not win unless we show the American public that this country depends on immigrant labor to function. We are switching the conversation from ‘Are immigrants wanted?’ to ‘Are immigrants needed? We cannot live like this anymore and the immigrant community is ready to show this country what would happen without us.”