Hispanics vow Calif. convention Boycott over license bill veto

Angered by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's veto of a bill to let illegal immigrants drive legally, Hispanic leaders and political groups are organizing protests and a national boycott of California to disrupt the convention industry. Supporters of the bill accuse the Republican governor of reneging on promises to reach a compromise. Instead, they say, Schwarzenegger tacked on a demand that calls for licenses to be specifically marked -- differentiating illegal immigrants' licenses from those of U.S. citizens. ''If this is the posture the governor wants to take, then our community is going to be forced to kick it up a notch,'' said Nativo Lopez, president of the Mexican American Political Association. Lopez planned to organize a national boycott aimed at steering conventions away from San Diego, Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Francisco. The measure, approved by the Democratic-controlled state Legislature, would have allowed up to 2 million immigrants to drive legally.  [more] and [more ]

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