Several restaurants and food businesses in Dallas-Fort Worth adjusted operations on Friday, Jan. 30, as part of a “National Day of Action.” The effort, which is part of the ICE Out movement, aims to protest against federal immigration policy and the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) across the U.S. by keeping stores closed and ceasing economic activity, among other recourses.
While some local businesses remained closed Friday as part of the protest, others still opened their doors while publicly expressing support of the cause. Some said they plan to donate part of their profits to immigrant advocacy organizations.
“It’s a way to express my love and support for all the families who are going through something like this,” said Britany Güereca, owner of Cafe’Ciro in Dallas’ Pleasant Grove neighborhood, one of the businesses that closed its doors Friday. “Today it may be them, and tomorrow it could be us. We can’t close our eyes to what’s happening.”
Closing on Friday was a sacrifice for Cafe’Ciro since it was already closed for three days over the past week due to the winter storm. It’s worth it, Güereca said, as they could not remain silent about their total disagreement with what is happening not only in other states, but in their city and their neighborhood.
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“I grew up with the phrase ‘Un barrio unido jamás será vencido’ –‘A united neighborhood will never be defeated,’“ Güereca said. “That has been my conviction since I was a little girl. We have to take care of each other.”
The latest ICE Out action comes after massive protests in cities like Minneapolis, where ICE agents fatally shot two people protesting immigration policies. The effort to keep stores and restaurants closed, among other actions, is expected to last through Saturday, Jan. 31. There are also protests planned for the day nationwide.
Some of the North Texas restaurants and cafes have expressed their support for the movement, but remain open are trying to recover from the economic blow of last weekend’s forced closure due to the winter storm.
One such restaurant is Resident Taqueria in northeast Dallas.
“We stand with our immigrant families and support the national closure,” it posted on Instagram.
Picone, an Italian restaurant in Denton, is another that wanted to close its doors, but due to the closure in recent days, was unable to do so.
“We are a small business that only opens four days a week. After closing early Friday and all day Saturday last weekend, we can’t really swing closing on another busy day,” the business posted on Instagram.
Other businesses will donate part of their profits to organizations that support the immigrant community.
Cultivar Coffee will donate $1 per transaction between Friday and Sunday to the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, according to a post on Instagram, and Celestial Beerworks will donate a portion of its profits to not-for-profit organization Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services.
“Our hearts are SO heavy with what we’re seeing,” reads a post on Instagram from Celestial Beerworks. “No matter where you stand politically, we know you see this sick inhumanity.”
Herby’s Burgers will donate 25% of its profits this Friday to Vecinos Unidos DFW, a local migrant support organization.
“At Herby’s, we stand in solidarity with our neighbors and with those who are speaking out against devastating ICE practices that have caused harm to families across the country,” it posted on Instagram.
Vecinos Unidos DFW will also receive donations from Pull Through Coffee Bar, which will donate $1 for every transaction made this Friday.
Olmo Market and CocoAndré Chocolatier, both in Oak Cliff, also announced their support for ICE Out. Although they cannot participate in the shutdown, they said they’ll hand out free hot chocolates to those who display a protest shirt, banner or sign on Saturday.
“As kids of immigrants, this has always been our reality, always has been on the forefront, and for some of us, a lived in experience,” reads a post on their Instagram.
Wild Detectives, the bookstore and coffee shop in Oak Cliff, also closed its doors on Friday in solidarity with the movement, reads a post on Instagram.