Denver businesses will join a nationwide strike against ICE as owners weigh financial impacts against moral stands.
DENVER — Several Denver businesses will participate in a nationwide strike on Friday in response to President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, where federal agents shot and killed two people, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in recent weeks.
Organizers are encouraging people not to go to work, attend school, or shop as part of the National Day of Action against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The grassroots effort, led by student groups at the University of Minnesota, aims to “shut down the economy,” according to The Guardian.
Denver clothing store Preston and James, located off Colfax Avenue, will close its doors for the day, according to owner Evette Preston.
“Caring for someone shouldn’t be political,” Preston said. “I couldn’t feel right not standing up for people who need to have more voices.”
Preston acknowledged the financial impact of closing but emphasized the importance of taking a stand.
“It’s a huge loss to be able to close any days, and I try not to,” she said. “It’s not something we are just shoving a rug over, closing an eye to, and it’s that whole saying it’s not in our backyard…like.. people care!”
Not all businesses participating in the strike can afford to close completely. The Spicy Librarian bookstore will remain open on Friday, but will donate 5% of all profits from the day.
Owner Sydney Ivey said her business deliberated all week about how to participate.
“The reality is that we are a small business, and we can’t close,” Ivey said. “That doesn’t always have to look like closing and shutting down and hurting our own business.”
Instead, the Spicy Librarian plans to serve as a community space during the strike.
“If you want to come in and help people call senators, we are more than welcome to have you in our doors,” Ivey said.
The bookstore also wanted to provide a gathering space for community members.
“I look at it as if I am going with our morals. I’m leading my business through that morality lens,” Ivey said.
Both business owners addressed concerns about mixing politics with commerce.
“There is that whole don’t show religion, don’t show political views, you know,” Preston said. “But it’s like, why be scared?”
The National Day of Action is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 30, with additional protests planned for Saturday, Jan. 31.
Nationalshutdown.org, the website promoting the strike, states: “The people of the Twin Cities have shown the way for the whole country – to stop ICE’s reign of terror, we need to SHUT IT DOWN. NO WORK. NO SCHOOL. NO SHOPPING. STOP FUNDING ICE.”
