More than 20 New Orleans-area business owners have shared plans to join in the nationwide ICE Out of Everywhere National Day of Action, protesting recent actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
The restaurants and businesses are donating portions of the day’s sales, closing for the day, or giving away food and services on Friday, and some are extending through the weekend.
Flour Moon, a bagel shop in Mid-City shut down its delivery service and planned to donate 10% of sales to the National Immigration Law Center and Familias Unidas En Accion, said owners Jeff Hinton and Brianne Kistyk.
“Given what we went through just a few weeks ago with the ICE enforcement in New Orleans and then seeing the stories unfold in Minneapolis, we’re absolutely fearful of what’s going on,” Hinton said.
A week before Christmas, a white minivan pulled up to the docks in Hopedale, and four U.S. Coast Guard agents jumped out in black vests.
After the death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, hundreds in the Twin-Cities area took to the streets on Jan. 23 as part of a general strike to protest immigration officers’ presence and actions in the city.
The following week, activists on social media called for a nationwide strike on Friday to continue protesting the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown and the increase in funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Several businesses in New Orleans wanted to participate in the strike, but not all could completely cease operations.
Bloom Yoga Studio is run primarily on a subscription model, so its patrons have already paid for services, owners Chloe Moon and Julia Davis explained. Since they consider the studio a community space for healing, they wanted to create a safe space to gather.
Moon and Davis shared that many of their regular clients have been affected by the immigration crackdown in some way, and that some have shed tears in the studio.
“We see that impact on our community, and we feel it, and also, it’s just like we want people to feel safe, and it sucks to be in a situation where people don’t feel safe and cared for,” Moon said.
Helping the community is the primary way participating New Orleans restaurants and businesses are taking part in the “ICE Out” movement.
Hinton shared that the bagel shop has been donating the dough in the form of money and bagels to Familias Unidas En Accion for a few weeks now.
“We’ve, we’ve seen a lot of our friends and neighbors and other restaurants and chefs and bakeries absolutely supporting in the same way, which is incredible,” he said. “We’re excited about the possibility of not only bringing attention to what we don’t want to happen in our communities, and then hopefully, you know, raise some good money to give voice and enable those who are defending people who are our neighbors.”
Bagels from Flour Moon Bagels in New Orleans, part of a growing trend for traditional, hand-made bagels. (Staff photo by Ian McNulty, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Restaurants and businesses participating in the protest
Flour Moon
The Mid-City bagel shop is donating 10% of sales to the National Immigration Law Center and Familias Unidas En Accion.
Address: 457 N. Dorgenois St.
Levee Baking
The Uptown bakery pledged to donate 15% of sales to mutual aid.
Address: 3138 Magazine St.
Alex Peyroux inspects a beer poured straight from the tank at his Miel Brewery and Taproom on Sixth Street in New Orleans.
Sports Drink: Cafe & Comedy Club
The Uptown comedy club and cafe said it would donate proceeds to mutual aid housing and legal funds to help affected families.
Address: 1042 Toledano St.
NOLA Craft Culture
The Mid-City crafting studio said it would be open with supplies for people to make protest signs at no cost.
Address: 127 S. Solomon St.
Miel Brewery & Taproom
The Irish Channel brewery said it would donate 10% of sales to support immigrant families affected.
Address: 405 Sixth St.
Turkey and the Wolf
The Lower Garden District restaurant is donating 100% of its proceeds to Free ALAS and to Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy.
Address: 739 Jackson Ave.
Francolini’s
The Uptown sandwich shop said a portion of sales would go to support local immigrant families and to Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy.
Address: 3987 Tchoupitoulas St.
A traditional Italian sub on Ayu Bakehouse bread from Francolini’s, a forthcoming Italian deli now running sandwich pop-ups. (Staff photo by Ian McNulty, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Smoke and Honey
The Mid-City restaurant said it would match Flour Moon’s pledge to donate 10% of sales to the National Immigration Law Center and Familias Unidas En Accion.
Address: 3301 Bienville St.
Original Slap Burger
Chad Barlow brought his Original Slap Burger to Marie’s Bar & Kitchen in the Marigny.
The Marigny burger shop inside Marie’s Bar said it would donate to the American Civil Liberties Union and to Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy.
Address: 2483 Burgundy St.
Leo’s Bread
The Mid-City bakery said it would donate 10% of sales to local families still affected by the immigration sweeps.
Address: 2438 Bell St.
Anna’s and Disco Liquids
The Bywater bar is partnering with a wine distributor to donate 100% of Bardos Cider sales to Modern Times in Minnesota. The Minneapolis restaurant is providing free meals to people in need.
Address: 2601 Royal St.
Grow Dat Youth Farm
The Mid-City farm shared that it would be closed in support of the protest.
Address: 150 Zachary Taylor Dr.
Que Pasta NOLA
The New Orleans-area pop-up decided to close business Friday night and instead give out free food while supplies last. Que Pasta will also donate a portion of its sales through the weekend to Familias Unidas En Accion.
Address: 1431 Royal St. on Friday night
Bloom Yoga Studio
The St. Roch yoga studio said all classes this weekend would be donation-based, with all donations going to Union Migrante.
Address: 1225 Mandeville St.
Lucky Dagger Tattoo
The Central City tattoo shop said it would be closed in protest.
Address: 1124 St. Charles Ave.
Here Today Rotisserie
The Lower Garden District restaurant said it would donate $5 for every chicken cooked to Familias Unidas En Accion.
Address: 1245 Constance St.
A rice bowl with chicken and crispy potatoes at Here Today Rotisserie in New Orleans. (Staff photo by Ian McNulty, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Nola Brewing and Pizza Co.
The Irish Channel brewery and pizza restaurant said 10% of sales would go to Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy.
Address: 3033 Tchoupitoulas St.
Hey Coffee Co.
The New Orleans area coffee roaster said it would donate 15% of sales from both of its cafes to Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy.
Address: 2606 St. Louis St. and 4300 S. Derbigny St.
Fifi’s Custom Wigs
The French Quarter wig shop pledged that a portion of its sales would go towards supporting mutual aid and immigrant legal support.
Address: 934 Royal St.
Chef Ana Castro highlights seafood at Acamaya.
Acamaya
The Bywater restaurant said it would donate proceeds from its shrimp caldito to a local fund that provides groceries and direct financial support to families sheltering in place.
Address: 3070 Dauphine St.
Lady Nellie Oysters
The New Orleans area oyster purveyor said it would donate 20% of its delivery sales to Home is Here NOLA.
Orders accepted via Instagram (@ladynellieoysterfarm)
