Protests highlighting “A day without immigrants” are planned in several cities across the United States on Thursday in a show of opposition to Trump administration immigration policies. A flier advocating the protest, which harken back to demonstrations in 2006, calls on immigrants to stay out of work, close their businesses, avoid buying gas, and not attend class nor send their children to school.
Action is planned in Washington, DC; Austin, Texas; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn; Des Moines, Iowa; and Philadelphia, though protests appear to be spreading quickly.
In Washington, celebrity chef José Andrés, who immigrated from Spain and became a U.S. citizen in 2013, tweeted “in support of our people & #ADayWithoutImmigrants Thurs 2/16 we will not open” five of his restaurants in the DC region, though he is keeping one open. Washingtonian magazine listed a number of restaurants that might close for the day, citing a flier calling for action. Similar fliers appeared in other cities.
“Mr. President, without us and our contribution, this country would be paralyzed,” says a flier distributed in the Austin area that calls for the boycott. Fusion said reports of “a potential national strike by immigrants” was “the latest in a growing movement to highlight the role immigrants play in the face of Donald Trump’s increasingly harsh crackdown.”
Fulfilling a campaign promise, Trump signed an executive order in late January to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and “to repatriate illegal aliens swiftly, consistently and humanely.” More than half of farm workers are believed to be undocumented. During the 2016 campaign, Trump called strongly for removal of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country, beginning as soon as he took office. A senior advisor, Sam Clovis, told farm audiences that a Trump administration would work with agriculture to prevent disruptions but some farmers are worried about the loss of workers.
“Some Twin Cities restaurants plan to close Thursday as part of the nationwide ‘Day without immigrants’ strike protesting President Donald Trump’s immigration policy,” said the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “The campaign encourages immigrants to stay home, close their businesses and refrain from dining out and making purchases on Feb. 16.”
Thousands of activists marched in a “Day without Latinos” demonstration in Milwaukee on Monday “in an attempt to prevent the Milwaukee County Sheriff from cracking down on undocumented immigrants,” said NBC News. It said the march was organized by the groups Voces de la Fontera “after County Sheriff David Clarke expressed interest in making his deputies Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers as a part of President Donald Trump’s executive order.” Protesters from at least 12 cities took part, said NBC News. “Community members and supporters were also advised to stay away from work and school, close businesses, and avoid purchases.”
Around 400 immigrant workers, parents, youth and advocates planned to meet last weekend in Boston to plan a nationwide boycott May 1 to show their impact on the U.S. workforce and economy, said the news site North Jersey. “The day, billed as ‘Un Dia Sin Inmigrantes’ or ‘A Day Without Immigrants,’ will be the first boycott held before a planned seven-day strike toward the end of the year,” organizers said.
“It will be the second time since 2006 that immigrant advocates plan such a walkout. On May 1, 2006, a one-day boycott of schools and businesses took place throughout the country and led to several protests,” said North Jersey.
Dairy farmers in Idaho launched a petition in support of immigration reform, said the Twin Falls Times-News. The petition has 2,400 signatures so far. “If something on immigration reform doesn’t get done soon, I fear these family businesses that rely on immigrant labor could drastically be affected,” said dairy farmer Hans Nederend. “These are jobs only immigrants will do.” The Idaho Dairymen’s Association estimates that 85 percent of dairy employees are immigrants.