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John Hollenhorst reporting From West Palm Beach, Florida, to Brooklyn, Nashville, Los Angeles, Chicago, Colorado and right here in Utah, thousands spent the day preparing for a big Latino strike tomorrow.
Some Latino leaders are discouraging people from skipping work and school -- but others say its a great way to get their message across
No one can predict whether tomorrow will bring a dramatic, nationwide walkout, or whether it will just be a big fizzle.
Either way, deep divisions over the strike show just how big an issue immigration reform has become.
A number of businesses are shutting down tomorrow or letting employees off for the day. Others have warned employees, they'd better not skip work.
The same disagreement runs deep in the communities that have the most at stake: Latinos and immigrants.
The Sunday Redwood Swap-Meet looks like an ethnic festival. Most customers appear Hispanic or Asian. So there's lots of talk about the strike for immigrant rights. Dianna Duran plans to skip work at Delta Airlines.
Dianna Duran, Airline Employee: "I think it's a good idea for the walkout. The Hispanic community can show that we have a big impact and we're a big community and that way people will appreciate us more."
Some will stay home unwillingly. Jesse Torres' company is shutting down for a day in sympathy.
Jesse Torres, Salt Lake: (reporter question: "Do you think that's a good idea?") "No, it's not a good idea because people are losing money. Everybody losing money now."
Some Latino activists are passing out handbills encouraging people to rally at the end of the day. They oppose a walkout for workers or students.
Oswaldo Gutierrez, Activist: "Well not really for the kids. It's very important that they keep going to school."
Activist Tony Yapias suggests wearing a blue ribbon instead of striking. He says it shows support for immigrants whose number one employer is the American homeowner.
Tony Yapias, Proyecto Latino De Utah: "I think they need to realize that in order to get that labor they need to awaken and realize these are real human beings with real needs."
Salt Lake County Resident: "I'll sweep floors, I'll answer phones,"
This Utah woman wants to turn the tables on strikers by taking their job for a day if they walk away.
Salt Lake County Resident: "they shouldn't be working in the first place if they aren't legal. And there are enough Americans, I'm sure, that would take the jobs."
Another twist has education officials worried.
Many schools are giving a highly important test tomorrow, and it's partly designed to measure the progress of minorities. If Latinos skip school in large numbers, the school itself could get a failing grade.
Tomorrow could be a very interesting day.
