Following in the footsteps of protesters who took to the streets of Milwaukee to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump’s immigration policy on Monday, thousands of students, local business owners, and community leaders from across the country participated in “Day Without Immigrants” rallies and protests Thursday.
Read more: US Gets Ready for 'Day Without Immigrants' Rallies and Strikes
The “Day Without Immigrants” was meant to showcase the economic contributions immigrants have made to the United States. Many shop owners, immigrant and otherwise, closed their doors in a showing of solidarity with the legal and undocumented immigrants who work for them.
My 14 y/o brother on strike for #DayWithoutImmigrants ✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/rrFhYVyP3l
— helwa حلوة (@helwarosa) February 16, 2017
From doctors to dishwashers, immigrants are integral to daily life in the U.S. We stand w/ @ChefJoseAndres#ADayWithoutImmigrants. https://t.co/A3gGkCYtLX
— Janet Murguía (@JMurguia_NCLR) February 15, 2017
The VL team is on the ground to support the #DayWithoutImmigrants March in DC! Join us & stand in solidarity w/ the immigrant community! ✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/HZXcsVj77S
— Voto Latino (@votolatino) February 16, 2017
More than 10% of restaurant industry employees are immigrants, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, though it is unclear what proportion of them are undocumented.
World-famous restaurateurs including José Andrés, owner of five popular Washington D.C. restaurants, and Rick Bayless, who runs four restaurants in the Chicago area, shut down all of their restaurants in solidarity.
Read more: 6 Top Chefs Making A Difference to End Hunger
Along with Andrés and Bayless, restaurant owners in at least 10 metropolitan areas — including Minneapolis, Austin, and Pittsburgh — shuttered their shops and put signs on their doors, highlighting the contributions immigrants make to their restaurants and to their communities.
Here are some of our favorite signs and social media posts that drove home the message that the United States was built on the backs of immigrants:
1-4. Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, Xoco, Fonda Frontera; Chicago, IL
Out of respect for r staff's vote to support Thurs's immigrant civil action, we r closing Frontera Grill, Topolobampo,Xoco & Fonda Frontera
— Rick Bayless (@Rick_Bayless) February 16, 2017
5. Chop't; Washington, D.C.
Confusion on K Street! Some @Chopt locations closed today in support of employees participating in #DayWithoutImmigrants#DiaSinInmigrantespic.twitter.com/J4EBWYW8XW
— José Díaz-Briseño (@diazbriseno) February 16, 2017
6. El Burrito Mercado; Minneapolis, MN
#DayWithoutImmigrants designed to show importantance of immigrants to country's day to day life, El Burrito Mercado also closed in SP @WCCOpic.twitter.com/0iS59efAEJ
— Mary McGuire (@mcguirereports) February 16, 2017
7. World Street Kitchen; Minneapolis, MN
#DayWithoutImmigrants movement gaining momentum. More than a dozen businesses on East Lake Street closing tomorrow. Plus a few on Lyndale pic.twitter.com/KiKz7tnbVB
— Leah Beno (@LeahBenoFox9) February 15, 2017
8-10. Busboys & Poets; Washington, D.C.
Busboys and Poets, other restaurants across the DC metro area closed today for #ADayWithoutImmigrants protests. pic.twitter.com/YDQMF96u0j
— Lars Gesing (@LarsGesing) February 16, 2017
Our founder @andyshallal is an immigrant in solidarity #ADayWithoutImmigrants. We will be closed on Thurs. Immigrants make America great! pic.twitter.com/X6evbrp9yZ
— Busboys and Poets (@busboysandpoets) February 15, 2017
11. Home Slice Pizza; Austin, TX
Home Slice Pizza is willingly closed today. We will reopen tomorrow at 11am. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/tHmlGGWZPG
— Home Slice Pizza! (@homeslicepizza) February 16, 2017
12. Hola Arepa; Minneapolis, MN
We’ll be closed all day tomorrow Thursday, FEB 16 for DAY WITHOUT LATINOS & IMMIGRANTS in solidarity with our friends & family. Please read: pic.twitter.com/r0gjnUmKoh
— Hola Arepa (@holaarepa) February 15, 2017
13. Eately; Boston, MA
We apologize for any delay tomorrow. We are an immigrant company & support any employees participating in the strike #DayWithoutImmigrantspic.twitter.com/IxBcjhjwbT
— Eataly Boston (@EatalyBoston) February 16, 2017
14. Pho 102; Chantilly, VA
The #1 Pho Restaurant in NoVA, #pho102 is closed tomorrow for the #DayWithoutImmigrants proud of my Uncle for this. pic.twitter.com/AX17uePtL2
— SEVEN10 (@BryBryNewin) February 15, 2017
15. Sweetgreen; Washington, D.C.
Area businesses hold general strike for #DayWithoutImmigrants All 18 Sweetgreen locations closed in DC area, this one in Crystal City. pic.twitter.com/U9IAzoRUKD
— DCMediaGroup (@DCMediaGroup) February 16, 2017
16. Las Palmas; Pittsburgh, PA
MARK YOUR CALENDARS @CityPGH & @mywashpa#LasPalmas will be closed on Thursday! #daywithouthispanics#WPXI#daywithoutimmigrantspic.twitter.com/DP1sZxjnEc
— Gigi (@wpxigigi) February 15, 2017
17. Lighthouse Tavern; Waretown, NJ
Without immigrants, none of this amazing food would be cooked at my bar. I stand in solidarity with the #DayWithoutImmigrants. @politiconjpic.twitter.com/S8y3MyFfcx
— Jim Keady (@JWKeady) February 15, 2017
18. Pio Bagel 8 Inc.; Brooklyn, NY
My favorite bagel place is closed today #DayWithoutImmigrantspic.twitter.com/3hcVmHlwLj
— L. Joy Williams (@ljoywilliams) February 16, 2017
19. Mi Tierra; Hadley, MA
Mi Tierra restaurant in Hadley closed Thursday as part of national 'Day Without Immigrants' movement https://t.co/YpIZ9mGWSx
— Diane Lederman (@diled) February 16, 2017
20. Erbaluce; Boston, MA
We are finding restaurant after restaurant closed Erbaluce Restaurant closed today in support of "A Day Without Immigrants" #wcvbpic.twitter.com/L5HIiwKxd0
— Shaun Chaiyabhat (@ShaunWCVB) February 16, 2017
21. Dona Maria; Las Vegas, NV
Dona Maria restaurant closed in honor of a day without immigrants. Owner tells me wanted to show solidarity. @News3LVpic.twitter.com/2g7jBFroHu
— Jeff Gillan (@jgillanNews3LV) February 16, 2017
22. Zavino; Philadelphia, PA
Sign posted on door at Zavino at 13th and Sansom. Restaurant will be closed today for 'Day without Immigrants'. pic.twitter.com/VpuPQIXpRW
— Katherine Scott (@KScott6abc) February 16, 2017
23. Cafe Hornitos; Austin, TX
Cafe Hornitos usually opens at 6am -- but is closed today as the restaurant is taking part in the national protest "Day Without Immigrants." pic.twitter.com/sCxWRPs3An
— Jay Wallis (@KVUEJayWallis) February 16, 2017