Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Sunday that he will stay in the city during the nation-wide "Great American Boycott" rally Monday and may participate in a pro-immigration rally after work.

Villaraigosa, the city's first Latino mayor in over 130 years, announced his plans at a news conference here to talk about Monday's boycott, which organizers hope to demonstrate the clout of immigrants in the U.S. economy.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to skip work and school Monday to attend rallies in Los Angeles and across the United States, demanding millions of illegal immigrants be granted citizenship or at least a path to citizenship.

Meanwhile, a famous religious leader and immigrants rights advocate said Sunday that it would be more productive if people went to work and school Monday and then participated in the national boycott to show their support.

Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, who is also known for his outspoken support for immigrants rights, said participation in the pro-immigrant boycott was a personal choice, but that he thought people should go to school and work.

"This gives people the opportunity to do two things: to go to work and school and also to participate in a march or rally," Mahony said after Mass at the cathedral near downtown Los Angeles.

Mahony said he was optimistic that positive change was on the way after meeting with senators last week in Washington to discuss the issue of comprehensive immigration reform.

He said he was encouraged by recent polls indicating "the vast majority" of people are in favor of a comprehensive approach to change in the country's immigration law.

Monday's immigrant rights demonstrations could draw half a million marchers or more to the streets of Los Angeles, police said.

That is almost the number that marched at last month's major pro-immigration protest in downtown Los Angeles.

Source: Xinhua