Boycott's impact: Migrants' walkout has a hit-and-miss effect around Utah

Mark Murphy, general manager and partner of The Pub Group, found himself mopping floors and cleaning restrooms at The Pub in Trolley Square on Monday.

A total of 16 employees at the group's three restaurants — 100 percent of the restaurants' immigrant employees — stayed home as part of a national one-day boycott. Their absence forced Murphy and his partners to close Martine and The Red Butte Cafe for the day and to consolidate their remaining work force at the Trolley Square restaurant.

"We stand behind them," Murphy said. "A lot of them have been with us for many years."

The kitchen employees were among thousands across the state and nation who participated in "A Day Without an Immigrant," a national boycott, calling on all immigrants to stay home from work or school and not to buy anything.

Drawing off momentum from marches and rallies last month, the boycott was an effort to show the impact immigrants have on the economy as part of a push to legalize millions of illegal immigrants. The U.S. House of Representatives last year passed a get-tough measure that would make it a felony to be in the country illegally, and the Senate is expected soon to take up immigration reform.

In Utah, the impact of the boycott was hit and miss. Latino leaders were split on whether to support the boycott, and youths were encouraged to stay in school. Some, instead, encouraged workers to wear blue ribbons as a sign of support for comprehensive immigration reform.

Thousands of illegal immigrants and their supporters gathered in Liberty Park Monday evening for a rally and march. They waved U.S. flags, Mexican flags and flags of other countries. Members of the University of Utah student group MEChA planned an evening march to the state Capitol.

"I want someday to be a citizen because I love this country," said Fabi Rodriguez, originally from Venezuela. "We are here to help this country."

Meanwhile, about 100 anti-illegal-immigration activists held their own demonstration at the City-County Building, calling for tighter border security and enforcement of immigration laws.

In Utah, some businesses shut down for the day, or were short-staffed, as mostly Latino immigrants participated in "A Day Without an Immigrant." There were reports that some employers threatened to fire employees who stayed home. Others discussed the walkout with employees before Monday and decided to stay open.