Washington, D.C., will experience a “Day Without Immigrants” along with a number of other major cities across the country on Thursday. The grassroots movement is calling for immigrants not to go to work or make purchases on Feb. 16 to show President Trump how much legal and illegal immigrants contribute to the economy.
Other protests have been planned in Philadelphia, Boston and Austin, Texas. Those participating hope to draw the nation’s attention to the impact of immigrants who work in the restaurant industry.
Trump took executive action last month to enforce immigration policies outlined in the Immigration and Nationality Act. The move prompted groups on the left to claim the administration planned to deport 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. One standard immigration enforcement operation has taken place since Trump took office on Jan. 20, but similar ones were carried out during former President Barack Obama’s time in office.
The president also ordered the completion of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, as well as a temporary ban on refugees from seven countries in the Middle East and North Africa, though that action has been frozen by the courts. Many opposed to that order said it discriminated based on religion since the seven countries outlined in the order are majotity-Muslim.
The response in the nation’s capital to the call for a strike has been significant. More than 60 restaurants have signed on to strike on Thursday, according to one lengthy list compiled by the Washingtonian. Residents of D.C. who had planned to eat at any of these spots may have to look elsewhere:
Acqua Al 2
Amici Miei Ristorante (Potomac)
Arepa Zone (Union Market and food truck)
Ari’s Diner
Bad Saint
Bangkok Golden
Blue 44
BLT Steak
Brookland’s Finest
Bub & Pop’s
Busboys and Poets
Cancun Restaurant (Gaithersburg)
Chase the Submarine (Vienna)
Circa (all locations)
Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (Falls Church)
Co. Co. Sala
Daikaya
DC Empanadas (Union Market and food trucks)
Denson Liquor Bar
Dock CF
El Sol
El Tamarindo
Flight Wine Bar
Ghibellina
Hank’s Cocktail Bar
Hank’s Oyster Bar (all locations)
Hank’s Pasta Bar (Alexandria)
Harold Black
Himitsu
Jaleo (DC, Crystal City, and Bethesda)
Jetties (all locations except 1921 I St., NW)
La Caprice
La Puerta Verde
Maso
Mezcalero
Mike’s Deli At Lazy Sundae (Falls Church)
Open Road (Falls Church)
Oyamel
Pizzeria Paradiso (Georgetown and Old Town Alexandria)
Peacock Cafe
Pupatella (Arlington)
Purple Patch
The Red Hen
Rappahannock Oyster Bar
Sakuramen
Sardi’s Pollo A La Brasa (all 10 locations)
Sotto
Surfside
Sweetgreen (all 18 DC locations)
TaKorean (all locations)
Texas Parrillada (Gaithersburg)
Thip Khao
Toli Moli (Union Market)
Toki Underground
Trio Grill (Falls Church)
Veloce
Zaytinya
Why we're choosing to close tomorrow. #adaywithoutimmigrantsA post shared by HIMITSU (@himitsudc) on Feb 15, 2017 at 2:23pm PST
