Dozens of Cleveland restaurants, bars, coffee shops, tattoo shops, vintage stores, beauty shops and others will be participating — in a variety of ways — in Friday’s National Shutdown Day to protest ICE.
“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, calling for a “general strike” of no school, no work and no shopping on Jan. 30. “It is time for us to all stand up together in a nationwide shutdown and say enough is enough!”
Scene confirmed at least a dozen businesses were planning on closing Friday, including The Rowley Inn, Mac’s Backs, Terrapin Bakery, El Rinconcito Chapín, Vintage & Vaina, El Kiosquito Boricua, Hexagon Books, City Goods, Algebra Tea House, Universal Cuts, Doki Doki, Warts and Wards, Holyland and the Cleveland Hair Fairy.
Some found other ways to shake up the system, like Cleveland Rocks Climbing Gym, which will be running a “day of no transactions” on Friday—that is, a day of totally free rock climbing and bouldering for whomever.
“The goal of the strike is to make no transactional sales in order for there to be a felt impact of no sales tax,” the gym wrote in an Instagram post. “We want to still be open to be supporting our local climbing community but feel we need to take a stance on this nationwide topic.”
On West 25th, business owner Sam McNulty told Scene that he’s giving employees at all eight of his bars and restaurants the opportunity to take the day off.
“These are isolating times,” McNulty said. “We feel strongly that it is important for us to come together in solidarity and support and raise a glass to human connection and positivity and rising above fear and oppression—together.”
Many more businesses are staying open for the sake of their own or employees’ financial survival but donating all or a portion of proceeds or profits from the day to nonprofits tied to the defense of immigrants. (There are far too many to name here, but search your favorite local spot and there’s a good chance they’re doing something for the effort.)
It’s been hard times, many of them shared in social media posts, between the economy and the recent stretch of brutal weather, and simply closing their doors wasn’t an option.
“This week we’ve had many conversations with fellow small business owners who’ve been struggling with how to handle the call for a strike. Many fear they’ll be seen as against the cause if they don’t close, but don’t have the bandwidth to do so,” Brewnuts’ owners shared in a social post noting they’d be open Friday after discussing the issue with staff, but would host a future community gathering and fundraiser. “That’s one of many things that our current administration doesn’t care about and that many folks don’t know: the people making our communities feel safer and more vibrant by bringing unique businesses to them are often a week or emergency away from being in untenable situations.”
In general, those who do venture out to spend money are encouraged to do so in cash and at local businesses, not corporate chains.
A coalition of faith and local leaders has urged the wider community to participate to show solidarity.
“We want the federal government to understand that we will not be backing down, and that these streets belong to the people of Cleveland,” Cleveland City Councilman Tanmay Shah said at a press conference yesterday at Glenville High School. “As an immigrant, I can say that we’re tired. And we’re done with justifying our existence and our humanity.”
A sense of how many Clevelanders will not be going to work or school is harder to gather, but some who responded to Scene said they simply can’t miss a day.
“ICE is bad,” one commented on Reddit. “But I (and many others) can’t afford to ‘avoid’ work.”
While others are in a position to do so.
Amanda Yurick, a professor of special education who lives in Cleveland Heights, will not be working on Friday and her teenagers will not be going to school.
“It’s like the frog boiling in the water,” Yurick told Scene in a phone call. “It’s time for everyone to move in the same direction.”
Including her boys.
“They have to learn what it means to be an active, engaged citizen,” Yurick said.
An anti-ICE rally is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday on Public Square. A candlelight ceremony in honor of Pretti is set for 6 p.m. Sunday in front of the Louis Stokes VA Hospital.
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