Dozens of Maine business owners are taking a stand Friday against the enhanced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Maine.The group Portland Strike Now said more than 80 businesses have agreed to close for the day on Friday as part of a nationwide ICE protest.The owners of Cuties in the Old Port said they are joining the service industry strike as a show of solidarity with their friends, peers and neighbors. Cuties will donate a portion of its drink profits to help community members who were detained by ICE and may need help in the form of bond payments and legal support.Room for Improvement will also close on Friday. The Wharf Street bar has created a weeklong fundraiser that will benefit the MaineHealth Food Pantry on Congress Street, which is utilized by members of the immigrant community.Not all businesses are closing, however. Birch Shambaugh, owner of Woodford Food and Beverage, said he stands in solidarity but will stay open. He will instead donate 10% of all sales to the Maine Immigrant Rights League.”ICE is unwelcome in our community, in Portland and in our restaurant,” Shambaugh said. “We certainly have nothing but a deep amount of antipathy for their stated mission, and for the disruption and lack of humanity that they are showing in our communities. We will do everything that we can to try and stand in resistance to that.”Joshua Ames, owner of Novel Book Bar and Cafe on Congress Street, said he supports the mission but cannot afford to close his business.”Both the staff need the money. Our business needs the money. But also, Novel has always been a safe community space, a safe space,” Ames said. “I think now, more than ever, we want to make sure that people have a space to go to.”Friday’s strike in Portland will culminate with a protest in Monument Square, which is scheduled for 3 p.m.On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem informed her that ICE has ended its enhanced activities in Maine. Collins said that there are currently no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations in Maine after she asked Noem and others in the Trump administration to get federal immigration authorities to reconsider their approach to enforcement in the state.
Dozens of Maine business owners are taking a stand Friday against the enhanced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Maine.
The group Portland Strike Now said more than 80 businesses have agreed to close for the day on Friday as part of a nationwide ICE protest.
The owners of Cuties in the Old Port said they are joining the service industry strike as a show of solidarity with their friends, peers and neighbors. Cuties will donate a portion of its drink profits to help community members who were detained by ICE and may need help in the form of bond payments and legal support.
Room for Improvement will also close on Friday. The Wharf Street bar has created a weeklong fundraiser that will benefit the MaineHealth Food Pantry on Congress Street, which is utilized by members of the immigrant community.
Not all businesses are closing, however. Birch Shambaugh, owner of Woodford Food and Beverage, said he stands in solidarity but will stay open. He will instead donate 10% of all sales to the Maine Immigrant Rights League.
“ICE is unwelcome in our community, in Portland and in our restaurant,” Shambaugh said. “We certainly have nothing but a deep amount of antipathy for their stated mission, and for the disruption and lack of humanity that they are showing in our communities. We will do everything that we can to try and stand in resistance to that.”
Joshua Ames, owner of Novel Book Bar and Cafe on Congress Street, said he supports the mission but cannot afford to close his business.
“Both the staff need the money. Our business needs the money. But also, Novel has always been a safe community space, a safe space,” Ames said. “I think now, more than ever, we want to make sure that people have a space to go to.”
Friday’s strike in Portland will culminate with a protest in Monument Square, which is scheduled for 3 p.m.
On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem informed her that ICE has ended its enhanced activities in Maine. Collins said that there are currently no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations in Maine after she asked Noem and others in the Trump administration to get federal immigration authorities to reconsider their approach to enforcement in the state.
