Day without immigrants protests looked local, but organized nationally

David Hucks

Per CBS News, in support of a day without immigrants, national organizers urged residents to refrain from shopping, attending school, or going to work within their communities on February 3rd. This date coincides with President Trump’s recent immigration-related executive orders. The report also notes that this initiative arises amidst well funded organizers raising heightened and dividing concerns about ongoing ICE raids.

MyrtleBeachSC News reported on the protests yesterday, of which participants informed us the event was organized nationally on Facebook, Instagram, and across social media platforms.

A DAY WITHOUT IMMIGRANTS PROTESTS IN LA

In California, American flags were set on fire while thousands of immigrants waived flags of other nations.

Monday’s demonstration replicated a comparable nationwide event that took place in February 2017, just a month into President Trump’s initial term. Similarly to Monday, students boycotted schools, while workers abstained from reporting to their jobs, even including the staff at a coffee shop within the Senate in Washington, D.C.

Nearly 250 businesses across the country joined the movement by closing in solidarity, according to Wendy Guardado, an activist from Los Angeles involved in organizing the action. Additionally, some establishments faced a shortage of staff, resulting in the closure of the kitchen at the Abbey Food & Bar, a well-known LGBTQ+ nightclub in West Hollywood.

Questions remain as to whom is funding Wendy Guardado and other highly funded national organizers.

Guardado mentioned that the events of Monday marked the initial phase, and she was informed that numerous individuals were unable to financially accommodate a day off from their employment due to the short notice given a week prior.

During the initial days of his second term, Trump endorsed the Laken Riley Act. This act encourages immigration officials to apprehend unauthorized immigrants when they are arrested for offenses such as burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, or assaulting a law enforcement officer. Passage of the Laken Riley Act upset members of the A Day Without Immigrants protest organizers.

“If we are not buying, participating actually, you will see that those offices aren’t clean,” Ana Victoria Sandoval, a member of the immigration rights group Juntos, told NBC10 Philadelphia. “The floors aren’t clean. They are going to be running low because that is us that are bringing it to the table.”

Several businesses in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region are partaking in the presentation, which includes La Casita Pupuseria, a Salvadoran restaurant with multiple locations in Maryland.

Protests, like a day without immigrants, against immigration laws during Trump’s presidency were not uncommon. In 2017, various businesses such as law offices and grocery stores closed for the day, students skipped classes, public marches took place, and certain employees chose not to work.

The day without immigrants protests in Myrtle Beach led to no business closures and no American flags being burned. The day without immigrants protests were held at Broadway at the Beach and on 9th Avenue in downtown Myrtle Beach.

Other countries’ flags were displayed during this A day without immigrants protest in Myrtle Beach.

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