Minneapolis Public Schools plan for staff and student absences; restaurants close in solidarity with “A Day Without Immigrants and Refugees” protests.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn – Thursday, Feb. 16 has been designated “A Day without Immigrants and Refugees” around the country. Marches and work strikes are planned, with organizers encouraging “undocumented immigrants, residents, citizens immigrants from all over the world” to keep their businesses closed, not go to work, keep children home from school, and not engage in any economic activity. According to the posts advertising the strike, the protests are against President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration; the protests’ intent are to show that “without us (immigrants) and our contribution this country will stop.”
The movement not only includes a work strike by immigrants and refugees, but also a march that will begin at the Mexican Consulate in St. Paul and end at the Capitol building.
In anticipation of the protest and work strike, Minneapolis schools sent an email to all staff on Feb. 15 about “A Day Without Immigrants”; asking that those who choose to participate in the day of action to “call in as soon as possible.” The district also reminds staff that students who do not have a parent excused absence will be marked as unexcused if they do not show up to school.
Additionally, several Twin Cities restaurants announced they will be closed on Thursday, Feb. 16 in solidarity with the “Day without Immigrants” protest.
Mesa Pizza in DinkyTown posted the following notice to their customers:
“We are joining the nationwide ‘day without immigrants’ movement happening that day, as we want to show our solidarity with everyone who is potentially affected by the current presidential administration’s policies toward immigrants…” (see full notice below).
The Pioneer Press reports other restaurants and businesses closing for the protests include:
Supermercado la Mexicana, Minneapolis
Sonora Grill, Minneapolis
Las Mojarras
Panadería San Miguel
La Alborada
Avandaros
Mi Boleto
La Poblanita
Intermaco
Taqueria La Hacienda
La Mexicana
Los Ocampo
Gorditas el Gordo
Merlin’s Rest will not have kitchen open.
El Chinelo Market
Gloria’s Beauty Salon
Los Hornos Del Re
Taco Taxi
Los Gallos (all 15 locations)
La Loma Tamales, Minneapolis and St. Paul locations
All Insurance Agency
World Street Kitchen and Milkjam Creamery
Salsa a la Salsa
Tinto Cocina + Cantina
Bilingual Child Care & Centro de Education early-childhood Spanish immersion in Roseville plans to partially close Thursday.
Andrea Mayer-Bruestle
Andrea Mayer-Bruestle is a former writer for Alpha News.
