Organizers across the country have called for “no work, no school, no shopping” on Friday, Jan. 30, to protest the mass deployment of federal immigration agents to Minneapolis and other cities across the U.S., and the deaths of protestors and immigrant detainees at the hands of those agents.
In San Francisco, at least 55 institutions and counting have announced they will be participating in the strike. Protestors also announced a plan to rally at Dolores Park, starting at 1 p.m.
Among the establishments that have announced their closure for the day: Al Pastor Papi, Donaji, Black Jet Bakery, and the Roxie Theater.
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“This was not an easy or casual decision,” the nonprofit movie house posted on Instagram. “But in this moment, it feels important to pause and to stand in opposition to ICE and the violence, fear, and harm they continue to inflict on immigrant communities and those who stand with them.”
Students across San Francisco also announced plans to walk out of classes.
A general strike, which aims for a near-total blackout of economic activity, is very difficult to pull off. Last Friday, on Jan. 23 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, hundreds of businesses closed their doors for the day, and thousands filled marched through downtown Minneapolis. In San Francisco, the best-known historical example of a general strike is the 1934 Waterfront Strike, organized after police killed two protestors.
Not every business can afford to close its doors, and not every worker can afford to strike. Reems, a Palestinian restaurant based in the Mission District, wrote on its Instagram that it would not be closing on Friday because “our immigrant team’s livelihood depends on your patronage,” but that it will serve free coffee from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for those heading to the Dolores Park protest.
Miguel Escobedo, owner of Al Pastor Papi, urged customers to support businesses that will be on strike by patronizing them on Thursday and Saturday instead.
Organizers have called for those who cannot quit working for the day to join in by not making any purchases, by calling their elected officials and asking them to block funding to the Department of Homeland Security, and providing strikers with aid like food, rides and childcare.
Black Bird Books and Coffee in the Outer Sunset is offering its backyard space to protesters, as well as free coffee and sign-making materials.
Green Apple Books will keep both its stores open but announced that it will donate all of its profits from this Friday to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. The Clement Street location will also provide whistles to protesters, and its 9th Avenue store is carrying free “How to Report ICE” pamphlets.