New York – Activists are calling on immigrants to protest President Donald Trump’s tough stance on immigration by staying home from work or school on Thursday, not shopping and not eating out, in an effort to highlight the vital role they play in U.S. society.
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“A Day Without Immigrants,” which has been largely driven by word of mouth on social media, arose in response to Trump’s vows to crack down on illegal immigration and his executive order, since suspended by a federal judge, to temporarily block entry to people from seven Muslim-majority countries.
The action follows a series of federal raids last week in which more than 680 people illegally in the country were arrested, raising alarm among immigrant rights’ groups.
“Mr. President, without us and without our contribution this country is paralyzed,” read a poster promoting the protest that was widely shared online.
It is not clear how many people plan to participate in the walkout. With few plans for large-scale rallies, it may be hard to estimate how many ultimately do. But one group that expects to be affected, and is in some cases embracing the cause, is restaurant owners.
Celebrity chef Jose Andres, locked in a legal battle with Trump after backing out of a deal to open a restaurant at the businessman-turned-politician’s new hotel in Washington, said he was supporting the strikers on his staff.
“People that never missed one day of work are telling you they don’t want to work on Thursday,” the Spanish-born Andres said in an interview at his restaurant Oyamel, which will be closed on Thursday. “They want to say: ‘Here we are,’ by not showing up. The least I could do was to say: ‘OK, we stand by you.'”
Dozens of restaurants, which rely heavily on immigrant workers, and other businesses in cities such as Philadelphia, New York, Houston and Raleigh, North Carolina, have vowed to shut their doors on Thursday in solidarity with no-show workers.
In New York, the owners of the Blue Ribbon restaurant chain said they would close several eateries despite the economic impact.
“It’s really a show of support for our staff, and as a team and a family as a whole,” said co-owner Eric Bromberg.
More than a dozen restaurants in Washington were planning to close on Thursday, according to social media.
“You have millions of Latinos, millions of immigrants, that somehow feel under attack,” Andres said. “They feel like they’re being pushed aside. They want to be part of the American dream.”
I don’t see deportations of legal immigrants. They should call it as it is, a day without illegal immigrants. hmmm….. I’m wondering how many doctors, lawyers and actuaries will be staying home today.
Great let ICe go there and get all criminal illegals.
so I guess they will refrain from drunk driving, wistling girls under puberty and other actions known to be done by “undocumented” immigrants?
Please also stop using our medicad and food stamps for both you and your anchor babies. And thats the real probelm. Sure the USA welcomes immigrants and we always did. But once LBJ started this silly great society and war on poverty the game changed. Unlike ellis island in the early 1900’s , now when immigrants come they get all government programs at least for thier kids. Thus we must make sure that the immigrants arriving are not poor. And that’s the problem with Mexicans. We can’t afford to pay for them.
No its not because their are rapists and murders. i disagree with Trump on belittling them. I simply think its fiscally unaffordable.
These immigrant/illegals are really stupid because while most don’t care to lose a days pay the majority will return to work tomorrow only to find themselves out of a job. I wonder what all the politicians will say when these people come to them for rent money?