As New York gears up for a general strike against ICE raids, a significant number of local restaurants and activists are joining the fray. A nationwide call to action has resonated with many in the restaurant industry, with establishments like Williamsburg coffee shop Land to Sea and Bed-Stuy vegan cafe Toad Style planning to close their doors in solidarity on Friday. Emily Shum, owner of Land to Sea, explained her decision to close, stating, "We believe we must disrupt 'business as usual' and local commerce in order to affect change and help bring attention to the violence and injustice brought on by ICE and our federal government," as told to Eater.
These closures come in the wake of ICE agents fatally shooting two residents in Minneapolis earlier this January, igniting widespread condemnation and calls for protest. The "ICE Out" action not only targets the cessation of ICE's aggressive tactics but also supports legislative measures like the New York For All Act, aimed to inhibit cooperation between state agencies and immigration enforcement. "ICE Out" events have been planned for multiple locations, including Foley Square in Manhattan and the Nassau County Legislature in New York, as well as Military Park, as reported by PIX11.
While some New York City establishments are closing in a gesture of economic resistance, others find alternative ways to contribute. Crown Heights wine bar Whoopsie Daisy and wine shop Fiasco are opening their doors as organizational spaces, while Greenpoint's Archestratus is hosting a "Crush ICE" bake sale. Profits from various events are being funneled to support organizations such as the Immigrant Defense Project and New York Immigrant Family Unity Project. "As cooks and bakers, our instincts are to nurture, feed, and protect," Paige Lipari of Archestratus articulated to Eater.
The community response underscores the sense of urgency and solidarity that many in New York City feel. This movement aims to spotlight the plight of immigrants who comprise a significant part of the very fabric of the city's food and beverage industry. "It’s an evergreen frustration that small restaurants are often the ones acting most decisively in these situations, and making the largest sacrifices to do so," said Evan Hanczor, a chef who is closing his restaurant Little Egg for the day, to Eater.
