In a show of solidarity against recent federal immigration operations, business owners in Phoenix are closing up shop today for the "Ice Out of Everywhere" movement. The protest, which originated in Minnesota, advocates for a day without work, school, or shopping to push back on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in local communities. According to AZ Family, Audrey Corley, the owner of Title 9 Sports Grill in Phoenix, chose participation over the potential financial hit. "I have nieces and I have goddaughters and I have family that it affects. It affects all of us, right. I wanted them to see that sometimes you have to take a stand even at a high cost because even though it’s a financial loss to us, I think there’s a greater loss to humanity if we continue on the path we’re on," Corley told AZ Family.
Many establishments across the Valley joined the strike, with some choosing alternate methods to stand in solidarity. Fox 10 Phoenix reports that Copper Star Coffee, for instance, stayed open but pledged to support the protest through donations to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Alexia Isais, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, spoke to the underlying sentiment of the protest, stating, "Our message is that ICE is not welcome and ICE should be abolished. We are calling on the entire community to stand up ... against this ICE terror in our communities."
While the decision to close doors for a day comes with financial implications, it also sends a message about community responsibility. Mika Maharaj, Phoenix business owner, highlighted the importance of collective action in an interview with Fox 10 Phoenix, "It's so incredibly critical that we all show up and do our part as businesses, as neighbors, as friends. Not everybody has the ability to shut their doors financially. I happen to be in a position where I'm able to do that for my community, and so I made the choice." The Greater Phoenix Chamber has weighed in on the situation, stating they are "closely monitoring" the events and emphasizing the importance of a "safe, stable, and predictable environment where businesses, employees, and communities can thrive."
This protest is not only about closing shops; a march to the Arizona State Capitol is on today's agenda. The planned demonstration will include some of the business owners and their employees who support the cause. Despite some backlash, businesses like Corley's Title 9 Sports Grill are firm in their stance. "When they have the capacity to shut things down, it really shows that we’re not playing games. We’re not here to basically let them continue to harm us," Dania Duran, a spokesperson for the Party for Socialism and Liberation, told AZ Family. The collective action seeks to underscore the impact that local businesses can have when banding together for social issues, marking today as a significant moment for immigrant communities and their allies in Phoenix and beyond.
