Latino Groups Call For Day Of Protest In GA

 ATLANTA - A Hispanic advocacy group has called on Latinos in Georgia to not "work, buy, sell or spend" today in protest of the new immigration law which is effective today.

The protest is being hailed as a "Day of Non-Compliance" by the organizer, the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLHAR).

The group's website states that it is also planning a protest march in Atlanta Saturday and a rally at the state Capitol.

"The message is clear: Georgia is no longer the" Peach State, "is now the State of Hate," said Adelina Nicholls, executive director of GLAHR.

Nicholls said GLAHR is driving a multifaceted campaign to repeal the law, HB87.

"We will show our economic power by not buying the first day of July and show the power of the people marching on July 2nd."

Teodoro Maus, president of GLAHR, said, "We are calling on people of conscience, regardless of race, religion, or work activity, to join in this protest. The moment a person is "tagged" as "illegal, (it demerits) their dignity as human beings."

Not everyone supports the protest, some Hispanic advocates urged caution. Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, says skipping work without authorization could cost people jobs in a tough economic climate.