LOS ANGELES, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Two immigrant rights groups, who jointly organized the biggest ever demonstration here last month, are now sharply divided on their future action plan, the Los Angeles Time reported Thursday.

    While one advocacy group calls for a walkout on May 1, when the International Labor Day falls, the other group urges to go to work and classes first.

    In separate press conferences held here Wednesday, the March 25 Coalition of 100 political and immigrant rights organizations reiterated its call for a boycott of work, school and consumer activity to demonstrate immigrants' economic power.

    But the We Are America coalition - which includes the Roman Catholic Church and 125 labor, business and immigrant advocacy groups - urged people to attend a rally after work and school.

    Both coalitions say they are united on the ultimate goal - adoption of just and humane immigration reform legislation - but differ over whether a boycott would be counterproductive by jeopardizing workers' jobs and students' grades.

    Some advocates also expressed fear that a boycott would increase negative public opinion, which began building after thousands of students walked out of classes last month, many of them waving the Mexican flag.

    But Nativo Lopez, a boycott supporter and president of the Mexican American Political Association, said a more confrontational approach was needed to shake up the nation's power structure and demonstrate the indispensable role that illegal immigrants play in the economy.

    The two coalitions are also divided over immigration policy, with differences over proposed guest-worker programs, terms of legalization and employer sanctions.

    According to the Los Angeles Times report, so far events are planned for May 1 in 40 states and hundreds of cities to press for the congressional adoption of a friendly immigration reform legislation.

    Activities will include petition drives, e-mail campaigns to Congress, teach-ins for students, marches, prayer vigils and the launch of a months-long campaign to register voters. Enditem