Hispanics Protest, but Impact Questioned

At Abuelita Mexican Food Products in Manassas Park, nearly all of the tortilla chip manufacturer's 60 employees -- mostly Hispanic immigrants -- came to work.

"We didn't even know there was going to be a protest from work today," said Eugene Suarez Jr., who helps run the family business with his father.

Bill Fairchild, president of general contractor R.W. Murray in Manassas, said his staff and the employees of the hundreds of subcontractors he uses showed up at construction sites around the county as usual.

Mariana Vasquez, a cashier at Latino Pollo A La Braza restaurant in Woodbridge, said she knew about the work stoppage. She agreed with the cause but opted to work anyway.

"I need the money. I don't have a choice," said Vasquez, the mother of a 1-year-old.

At the afternoon caravan rally, Stanley Castillo, a 29-year-old painter for a Hispanic-owned company in the county, said he lost out on about $150 by boycotting work. His boss agreed to let him and nine other employees take the day off to protest.

"I lose a lot but think I gain more here supporting this," Castillo said.