As businesses across the state are closing on Friday in protest against ICE as part of a “National Shutdown” that amounts a long weekend, others have decided to stay open while promising customers that they still oppose ICE.
[RELATED: Mills Maintains Radical Anti-ICE Rhetoric After They End Crackdown on Maine…]
“While many Maine businesses will be closed today for the strike, we have made the decision to remain open from 10am-6pm,” said the Briar Patch Bookstore in Bangor
“The Briar Patch stands in solidarity with our fellow businesses that will be closed as well as the immigrant members of our community and everyone who has been terrorized by ICE in our state and across the nation. We’ve decided that as a hub of the community, we will remain open to be a place to gather, find safety and warm up in the face of these dark times. Bookstores are staples of communities where people can access knowledge and perspective they might not otherwise have,” they added.
They promised that they are not asking anyone to come in and buy anything, but reminded customers that they are open just in case.
The Portland Press Herald reported in an article that is free to non-subscribers as a “public service” that over a hundred businesses are taking the day off for the strike.
Despite that, plenty of other businesses made it clear to customers that they remain open for business but stand in “solidarity” with the anti-ICE strikers.
Lone Pine Brewing, in Portland, issued a similar statement, vowing support for anti-ICE sentiment while encouraging anyone who does decide to eat out to support local businesses. They promised that they would donate an unspecified amount of the day’s proceeds to the Maine Solidarity Fund, a left-wing organization.
Foundation Brew, in Portland went even further, promising to devote all their Friday to left-wing, pro-illegal immigrant organizations.
Arcadia Portland promised not to be open for business, but they will allow anti-ICE protesters to use their building as a staging area, and to provide them with hot choclate.
“Love your neighbor. Fuck ICE. Vote,” they said.
Any Portland workers whose employers shut down for the day can accept money from the Maine Democratic Socialists of America’s fund to provide wages or rent money to anyone who lost wages to protest.
It remains to be seen whether the nationwide strike has any effect other than giving some workers a Friday off.
Here are some businesses that were unwilling to shut down, but want customers to know their opposition to the enforcement of immigration law:
