A number of Detroit-area small businesses closed on Friday as part of a National Shutdown Day general strike in solidarity with the protests over the Trump administration’s deadly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdown in Minnesota.
“Every day, ICE, Border Patrol and other enforcers of Trump’s racist agenda are going into our communities to kidnap our neighbors and sow fear,” the National Shutdown website reads. “It is time for us to all stand up together in a nationwide shutdown and say enough is enough!”
Thousands of people in Minnesota have been peacefully demonstrating in the bitter Midwestern cold to protest the ICE crackdown in their state and the deaths of fellow protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by ICE agents in recent weeks.
A number of businesses wrote in Instagram posts that they would close on Friday, including Library Street Collective, Drifter Coffee, City Bird, the Grand Porter, 27th Letter Books, Reware Vintage, and Witch House Tattoo.
Other businesses said they would remain open but posted messages of solidarity with the protesters.
“After careful consideration, we will remain open Friday, January 30,” an Instagram post by Corktown cafe and market Folk reads. “We stand in solidarity with all those impacted by what’s occurring with ICE. We will continue showing up to care for our neighbors, our team, and to provide a safe space for our community where all are welcome to commune and connect.”
It continues, “We care deeply about honoring each individual and the cultures that keep Detroit vibrant.”
Moondog Cafe, a cafe and music venue on the city’s west side, wrote on Instagram that it would remain open on Friday but said “we would like to voice our solidarity with the National Shutdown Movement & our vehement resistance to the racist terrorist organization called ICE.”
It recommended guests pay with cash and pledged to “donate a portion of sales to Detroit mutual aid orgs.”
It continued, “WE ARE TOGETHER.”
Downtown cafe and music venue Trinsophes said its planned concert Friday evening will resume, but all revenues from concession sales will be donated to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.
Other messages were less measured.
“We want to be clear: we abhor this administration’s anti-immigration policies,” reads an Instagram post shared by downtown’s Bad Luck Bar and other businesses. “They contradict the values we hold as a business and as a community.”
It continues, “As a small business, we need to keep our doors open tomorrow. Our priority is the livelihood and safety of our teammates — many of whom are directly threatened by these policies. We will not abandon them.”
It concluded: “FUCK ICE.”