A Day Without Immigrants.
That was the theme of a nationwide event held on Monday, February 3rd in cities and towns across America.
The social media-driven event encouraged immigrants to skip work, keep their children out of schools and boycott any shopping that day.
And there was a good bit of local support for the event in Russellville, as Russellville City Schools saw absences on Monday soar to 545, more than four times the normal absence rate for a winter school day.
Russellville City Schools Superintendent of Education Tim Guinn said there were 166 absences Monday at Russellville High School (compared to 33 the following day), 113 absences at Russellville Middle School (compared to 39 the next day), 119 at Russellville Elementary School (compared to 31 the next day) and 140 absences at West Elementary School and the pre-K program (compared to 42 the next day).
Guinn said most of the students absent were Hispanic, although others were not at school due to field trips.
Additionally, several Hispanic-owned businesses closed Monday. On its Facebook page, the Ville Nutrition's post read: To all our sweet & loyal friends, we will be closed TODAY ONLY—Monday, February 3rd in observance of 'A Day Without Immigrants.' This is a day to recognize the contributions of immigrants in our communities and workplaces. (Not all immigrants are criminals). We appreciate your understanding and look forward to serving you when we reopen on Tuesday, February 4th. Thank you for being part of our journey and for always supporting us! See you tomorrow!
A rally is scheduled for Saturday, February 8th, at the Franklin County Courthouse from 1-4 p.m. Organizers are calling the event 'Protesta Para Nuestra Gente,' meaning 'Protest For Our People' in the English translation.
Flyers posted around Russellville and circulated on social media urge rallyers to protest peacefully, be respectful of the building and other people and please bring flags, posters along with family and friends.
Franklin County Probate Judge Barry Moore said Thursday afternoon that an individual picked up a request form to use the courthouse for Saturday's rally but that form had not yet been returned.
Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said he was aware of the scheduled protest and his department would have additional officers working Saturday as a precaution.
Organizers are encouraging those who may be hesitant to attend Saturday's rally out of fear of retribution that the event will be respectful to the United States of America, its flag, its people, as well as flags of other countries.
Tuscumbia resident Claudia Martinez, who planned to organize a similar rally this Sunday in Florence, said she will attend the Russellville rally and hopes others will come to what she describes as 'a very important event' in a post on Facebook.
“Be proud of your culture. Be proud of your skin color. Bring your flags! Bring your banners! Please come out. This is gonna go down in the books!,” Martinez said.
The Minnesota-born Martinez said her father came to the United States as an illegal immigrant. Her mother, now deceased, was a United States citizen. Martinez said her father navigated the long process of becoming a United States citizen.
“For 19 years he tried to become a citizen and they finally accepted him this year,” Martinez said. “There are many people who came over here and had kids but can't really voice their opinions because of fear. Yes, I get that one person may do bad things but that doesn't make every single Hispanic a bad person because of a few people. It's not fair. We are all God's children and God doesn't see a person's color—just their soul.
“It's not our fault where we were born. It's not our fault we may have a parent who came over here illegally. But we are American citizens,” she added.
A rally was held Wednesday in Montgomery to oppose four bills pending in the Alabama Legislature that organizers describe as 'anti-immigrant' bills.
One of those would allow law enforcement officers to question people about their immigration status and require law enforcement agencies to collect DNA samples and fingerprints from illegal immigrants taken into custody.
Another would impose a fee on wire transfers from Alabama to other countries. Its sponsor, Sen. April Weaver (R-Alabaster) said it's in response to the problem of migrants who don't pay taxes but send money out of the state.
Another, SB53, would make it a crime to 'conceal, harbor or shield from detection an illegal alien if he or she knows or reasonably should have known the other individual is an illegal alien.
Some legislators said this week that up to 10 immigration-related bills may be considered by the Alabama Legislature this year, consistent with the strengthened enforcement of illegal immigration by President Donald Trump.
