Local Impacts of “A Day Without Immigrants” Strike

Minneapolis march for immigrants/refugees Feb. 11, 2016. Alpha News photo.

Minneapolis Public Schools plan for staff and student absences; restaurants close in solidarity with “A Day Without Immigrants and Refugees” protests.

Notice posted on the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee Facebook page.
Notice posted on the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee Facebook page.

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.”

Protest notice posted on the Minnesota Immigrants Rights Action Committee Facebook page.
Protest notice posted on the Minnesota Immigrants Rights Action Committee Facebook page.

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.

Email from Minneapolis Schools to staff about "Day without Immigrants" absences.
Email from Minneapolis Schools to staff about “Day without Immigrants” absences.

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).

Notice to customers posted by Mesa Pizza.
Notice to customers posted by Mesa Pizza.

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.