‘ DAY WITHOUT IMMIGRANTS’
DEMONSTRATION SHUTTERS SHOPS, RESTAURANTS AROUND THE COUNTRY
country’s economy and society.
Many shop and restaurant owners in Atlanta, Detroit, Washington, Philadelphia, Austin and other major U. S. cities joined the protest by closing their doors in a show of solidarity with their workers. In many places, immigrants marched to demonstrate their role in the nation’s economy.
“I’m here to be the voice of those who can’t speak,” said Erika Montes, 30, who turned out for a march to the White House. “I’m here to show my students and their families and my friends and family that teachers are supporting them, and we are going to make sure they have a safe place.”
Organizers urged documented and undocumented residents to participate in the boycott in response to President Trump’s crackdown on immigration.
Among the White House actions ran-
kling protesters are plans to build a border wall, to install a temporary immigration ban on nationals from certain Muslim- majority nations, to boost Border Patrol agents and to strip federal funding from sanctuary cities that limit cooperation with immigration agents.
Immigrants make up the majority of the 12 million workers in the restaurant industry and as many as 70% of those employed in cities such as New York and Chicago, according to Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, which works to improve working conditions. About 1.3 million in the industry are immigrants living in the USA illegally, the group said.
Ethan Smith, co- owner of the New York City restaurant Hecho en Dumbo, heard of the strike Wednesday night when other restaurants texted him to see whether he would close. Despite the financial blow, Smith said the restaurant decided to join because of the lack of an authoritative voice to address the fear sweeping the immigrant community over raids by officials.
“This seemed like an opportune moment for us to show the undocumented community support,” he said. “We also hope it will show those who may wish to impose broader deportation measures that our community as a whole isn’t going to sit idly by and let neighbors be taken from their homes en masse.”
Busboys & Poets and more than a dozen other restaurants shut down in Washington, including the Sweetgreen salad chain. “Our team members are the face of the brand, from the front lines to our kitchen — they’re the backbone of this company and what makes Sweetgreen special,” said co- founders Jonathan Neman, Nicolas Jammet and Nathaniel Ru.
“From doctors to dishwashers, immigrants are integral to daily life in the U. S.,” tweeted Janet Murguia, president of the National Council of La Raza, as she praised chef Jose Andrés’ decision to close his Washington restaurants Thursday.
Andrés decided to close after a few hundred of his employees told him they weren’t coming to work. “We are all one,” he said.
Andrés faces a lawsuit from Trump after pulling out of a restaurant at Trump’s Washington hotel over comments the candidate made about Mexican immigrants.
Dozens of restaurants closed in Chicago, including several run by chef Rick Bayless. He kept two open — Cruz Blanca and Lena Brava — and pledged to give 10% of gross revenue to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, the Chicago Tribune reported.
In Michigan, from Ypsilanti to Detroit to Pontiac, about 100 restaurants, car dealerships and groceries closed doors.