A coalition of immigrants' rights activists, church leaders and community leaders announced plans Thursday for a statewide boycott March 25 through April 1 to bring attention to what they say are the economic contributions of illegal immigrants.

David Falcon, owner of a south Denver satellite dish service, said he supports the boycott of Colorado businesses, even though his sales are down by more than 20 percent because of what he says is apprehension among his customers about making major purchases because they fear getting deported at a moment's notice.

"I might lose a little business for a week, but in the long run, it's worth it to support something that will hopefully bring relief to many businesses such as mine," he said. "We cannot survive if we continue serving a clientele that is afraid to even leave their homes."

The boycott, led by members of the Colorado Immigrants Rights Coalition, is part of campaign to drum up support for pending immigration reform legislation in the U.S. Senate. It is similar to a boycott called for during last year's pro-immigrant demonstration, which drew more than 100,000 participants.

"The economic gears of (the U.S.) depend on the contributions of 12 million undocumented immigrants," said Ignacio Ramirez, a member of Immigrant Families of Southwest Denver. "Those gears cannot work without us."

At the morning news conference at Skyline Park amid downtown high-rise offices, Ramirez pointed to an adjacent glass tower and said, "Your offices are clean, thanks to who? Your gardens are beautiful. Thanks to who? You have dollar menus and Happy Meals. Thanks to who?"

He and others condemned recent immigration raids that have netted hundreds of illegal immigrants throughout the state, calling them "domestic terrorism."

Next week, a 10-member delegation of church, education, business and student leaders will leave for Washington, D.C., to urge elected local officials to support comprehensive immigration reform.

Currently, representatives from Metropolitan Organization for People, a North Denver-based community organizing project, are in the nation's capital on a similar mission to meet with political representatives.

quinterof@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5250