February 16, was A Day Without Immigrants, which aims to show just how crucial immigrants and refugees from all over the world are to the United States economy and culture.
The initiative started on social media and encouraged immigrants, regardless of their status, to skip work, not send their children to schools and avoid spending money altogether. The campaign calls on people from all walks of life and professions.
Trump’s recent executive order on immigration has put many sanctions on people coming from foreign countries, while some of them got banned indefinitely. Through A Day Without Immigrants, protesters aim to very tangibly prove that foreign workers not only boost the country’s economy but also contribute a lot to its social and cultural growth.
According to The New York Times, at least a few dozen restaurants have shut doors in Washington, D.C., others offered limited service. And it’s not just mom and pop shops – Sweetgreen, Blue Ribbon and even McDonald’s are closing locations across the U.S.
The day was chosen to coincide with the International Workers Day, aka May Day, a national holiday celebrated in other parts of the country but not yet recognized by the U.S. It was also used to protest the Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, which called for new fencing along the Mexican border and cracking down on illegal immigrants and people who offer them shelter or aid.
Despite the turnout was massive with more than a million supporters skipping work and boycotting American businesses, the actual impact of the Great American Boycott can’t really be measured. Some argued it may have done more damage than good to businesses that employ immigrants.
Source: Konbini
