Group urges Hispanics to buy only essentials

Immigrants Without Borders, an activist group that has organized protest marches and is asking Hispanics to boycott their jobs during next year’s Super Bowl, has launched a new campaign — urging Hispanics to buy nothing but essential goods through Labor Day.

The purpose is to show the importance of Hispanics in the Valley’s economy, not just as workers but as consumers too, said Elias Bermudez, founder of the organization, which claims about 5,000 active members.

“We are calling on everyone in the Hispanic community to spend only for what is indispensable,” he said. “Don’t buy TVs, cars, movies, shoes, things that aren’t basic.”

Bermudez insists the commercial boycott, which he launched three weeks ago, is having an impact. He said one business reported its sales are down 22 percent, but he didn’t name the company.

“It is taking hold,” he said. “We got 85 calls in an hour and a half. People were saying they are doing what we are asking them to do.”

Even some businesses are supporting the campaign, he said, citing one company that paid for the printing of fliers to advertise the boycott.

In addition to dramatizing the role of Hispanics in the economy, Bermudez hopes the campaign will change what he believes is an anti-immigrant bias prevailing in the United States.

He said he is not seeking any specific immigration reform legislation or repeal of Arizona’s employer-sanctions law scheduled to go into effect in January. Some businesses are challenging that law in court.

Bermudez admitted an economic boycott could alienate more people than it helps, but he added “we are desperate ... If we don’t do something, we will be hurting for years to come.”

Once the campaign is completed on Labor Day, or Sept. 3, Bermudez said he will evaluate the results to determine if more steps are needed.

Mesa resident Soro Babel decided to participate because “we need to show that immigrants — they do give to society.”

A legal immigrant who has lived in the Valley for 20 years, he hopes the action will prod the U.S. Congress to approve a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

Babel said cutting his spending hasn’t caused too many hardships for himself.

He and his wife are planning to take a vacation “out of state” with the money they save.

Bashas’ Supermarkets has not seen any impact on business at its Food City stores, which cater to the Hispanic community, said director of communications Kristy Nied.

“We have a great relationship with the communities that we serve,” she said.

“We pride ourselves on being involved in the community.”

Harry Garewal, president of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said the boycott effort is a reflection of the frustration that many Hispanics feel over the lack of action by Congress on immigration reform.

He said his organization is trying to persuade Arizona’s elected officials to revive and pass a bill, which he said is still possible before the end of this year.

“The real issue here is unless the federal government comes up with a comprehensive reform act, we will have 40 to 50 individual (state) immigration laws,” Garewal said. “How will you manage that?”

Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, who co-sponsored the employer-sanction law signed by Gov. Janet Napolitano, said he doesn’t believe Bermudez speaks for the majority of Arizona Hispanics.

“He speaks for the illegal alien community. He does not speak for the Hispanic community. They aren’t the same,” he said.

Pearce, who insists he opposes only illegal immigration, not legal migration, said the boycott could have an impact — the opposite of the one intended.

“They will make the real Americans angry,” Pearce said.

“They are here illegally, and they are trying to intimidate the American people. It is wrong.”