14,000 March to Prove Wisconsin Needs Latino, Immigrant Workers

Hundreds of workplaces in Wisconsin suffered a slowdown on Thursday as thousands of Latinos and immigrants walked off the job and marched on the state Capitol in Madison to protest unjust immigration policy and show the important contribution immigrants make to the economy.

“Today we are seeing a general strike of thousands of Latino and immigrant workers that is causing major disruption in industries throughout Wisconsin,” said Voces de la Frontera Executive Director Christine Neumann-Ortiz in a statement Thursday. “Wisconsin needs Latino and immigrant workers, and today everybody knows it.”

Thousands gather inside the Capitol for the Day Without Latinos pic.twitter.com/ZjTfv67hER

— Hannah (@Hannah_nbc15) February 18, 2016

On the “Day Without Latinos and Immigrants,” businesses closed down, students didn’t go to school, and thousands of workers let their industries feel the pressure of not having immigrant workers on the job. Dairy and other farms, factories, and hospitality and service sector businesses, including fast food joints like McDonalds, were among the most impacted by the thousands-strong strike across the state.

Between 14,000 and 20,000 protesters took to the streets in Madison, according to local police estimates.

The huge marches focused on shutting down two pending pieces of legislation that activists have widely interpreted as anti-immigrant and racist.

It's cold and thousands of Wisconsinites are marching for immigrant rights. THIS is my Wisconsin! #daywithoutlatinos pic.twitter.com/cH3kJicc3r

— John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) February 18, 2016

“Workers and their families are mobilizing on the Capitol to tell Governor Walker and the Wisconsin State Senate to stop these racist, anti-immigrant bills from moving forward,” Neumann-Ortiz explained.

One of the bills, called AB 450, would ban local “sanctuary city” policies that protect undocumented migrants from having to disclose their immigrant status. If approved, the bill would open the door for police to collaborate with federal immigration authorities more easily in order to detain and deport undocumented residents.

ANALYSIS: Sanctuary City Movement Builds Migrant Justice with Solidarity

The second controversial bill, called SB 533, would ban municipalities from issuing local ID cards, which would also impact undocumented migrants who can’t access official state identification.

Right now at the Wisconsin capitol, huge crowds inside and out. #daywithoutlatinos pic.twitter.com/6Qcb65hXHW

— Shawn Johnson (@SJohnsonWPR) February 18, 2016

Aside from organizing for the Day Without Latinos and Immigrants, Neumann-Ortiz added that the fight against the immigration bills is also giving communities across the state an opportunity to mobilize the Latino vote to make an impact on the electoral front.

ANALYSIS: Latino Voters Crucial in US Elections

“Wisconsin’s fight reminds us that Latino and immigrant workers are willing to flex their economic power to send the message that they will not stand idly by while politicians try to pass laws that threaten their families and take for granted their labor,” Neumann-Ortiz said.

According to census data, Latinos and Hispanics make up 6.5 percent of Wisconsin’s population.

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