Open Businesses Pivot to Donations and Advocacy Amidst Calls for Closure
While many commercial establishments have shuttered their doors in response to calls for strikes protesting immigration policies, a significant segment of the business community has opted to remain operational while employing alternative methods of solidarity. Instead of ceasing activity, these business owners are donating a portion of their Friday revenue to advocacy groups, providing free community resources, or explicitly voicing their opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) directly to their patrons.
This strategic divergence occurs against the backdrop of organized movements often characterized as “A Day Without Immigrants” or general strikes intended to underscore the economic necessity of the immigrant workforce. These protests typically urge a complete halt to labor and spending to disrupt the economy and draw attention to stricter enforcement measures and deportation raids.
The choice to stay open, however, highlights a complex debate regarding the most effective form of protest. Critics of the open-business approach argue that anything less than a full strike dilutes the economic impact intended to force policy changes. Conversely, owners who choose to operate contend that maintaining revenue streams allows them to financially empower non-profits and legal aid networks that directly assist immigrant communities. Additionally, for many small enterprises operating on thin margins, closing for a full day presents an insurmountable financial risk, making the donation model a necessary compromise between economic viability and political expression.
