Downtown Sacramento filled with over 1,000 students and workers protesting mass deportations Jan. 30, part of a “National Shutdown” that involved hundreds of cities around the country. The Sacramento event was led by students from six public high schools, who secured a permit, left class after second period, gathered at the state Capitol and held a march and rally from Cesar Chavez Plaza. Hundreds of other protesters joined them, holding “Abolish ICE” signs sponsored by Sacramento Councilmember Mai Vang’s congressional campaign along with handmade signs with slogans like “Liberty and justice for all” and “Can’t spell cowardice without ICE.”

A shutdown is effectively a kind of strike — as in a workplace strike, participants protest conditions by withholding labor, but instead of pushing against workplace conditions, they are rallying against broader issues. While small businesses were not the direct target of this strike, many business owners found themselves in the spotlight as they decided whether or not to stay open Jan. 30. Staying open might appear to be a statement against the protests, while closing could mean losing a valuable day of profits — especially in industries with hair-thin margins, like restaurants.

In the days leading up to the shutdown, Instagram feeds filled with announcements from businesses explaining why they would or would not stay open. Some of the many businesses that announced they would close include the matcha-focused Sun House Cafe, the plant store Ampersand Bulb Co., the liquor store Good Bottle and the Japanese fusion restaurant Mecha Mucho.

Sun House Cafe owners Lalo Mata and Leandra Coronado said that, as Indigenous and Latinx business owners, the protests “hit really close to home.” “As a small business you never want to risk a day being closed due to rent, payroll and more additional costs,” they said via direct message. “We believe today is about reflection, connecting with one another and taking a stand for immigrants across the country.”

Another option for businesses, especially those close to the downtown protest grounds, was to stay open but focus on supporting the protesters instead of making sales. Meza California, an Arab-Mexican fusion restaurant, said they would give free coffee to anyone heading to the protests. Amatoria Books gave out free books and cookies, and if shoppers really wanted to buy something, they could only use cash (therefore not funneling any profits to banks). Offbeat Coffee in Upper Land Park offered free drip coffee and said they would donate 100 percent of profits on other products to The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, an immigrant rights organization based in the Los Angeles area since 1986.

Other businesses kept their doors open, but made announcements clarifying that they supported the protests, including the gift store Strapping, the queer bar Radclyffe’s and the Mexican bakery Panaderia La Guadalupe. The R Street vintage store Old Gold explained on Instagram that “January is an extremely hard month for us and many small businesses” but said that they would donate 10 percent of the month’s cash sales to NorCal Resist, a nonprofit based in Arden Arcade. Known for mutual aid projects like food and diaper distribution and free brake light repairs, the organization also provides immigration defense such as ICE bond assistance and legal workshops.

Old Gold wasn’t the only business to announce they would become NorCal Resist patrons. The downtown Immortal Cafe & Supply, which also announced they would stay open, said they would donate 10 percent of Jan. 30 sales to the organization. The Elk Grove bookstore A Seat at the Table Books donated 30 percent of cafe sales that day, while the Nevada City Asian store Winnie Superette said they would donate 50 percent of sales.

The pizza pop-up Camilleri’s, which operates out of a secret location in Greenhaven, said they would donate 100 percent of proceeds for a dough and sauce “drop” Jan. 30. Seasons Coffee, the aesthetic coffee shop inside the CLARA, said they would donate an unspecified amount, as did Sacramento Running Company.

Out-of-town businesses including The Candy Store in San Francisco and Yoga Salinas joined in the support with 20 and 100 percent of their Jan. 30 profits. Even the Folsom branch of the chain ice cream shop Ben & Jerry’s, known for their support of social causes, announced Jan. 30 that they would donate 50 percent of all sundae sales to NorCal Resist through the month of February.

Though some might consider staying open during a strike a breach of labor activist standards, NorCal Resist said they appreciated the donations. “We are super appreciative of the support from those and other local businesses,” a representative wrote by email. “It’s been a difficult time for nonprofits that work in the immigrant community, with so many families losing their breadwinners, needing support with legal fees, rent, immigration bonds and so many other costs. The extra support means a lot to us and the families we work with.”

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