Dozens of SF businesses shut down in solidarity with anti-ICE protests

Dozens of businesses around San Francisco closed Friday as a part of the nationwide “ICE Out” strikes.

Dozens of businesses around San Francisco closed Friday as a part of the nationwide “ICE Out” strikes.

From the Mission to Union Square, stores across San Francisco put up signs showing their support of the protests.

While many shut down completely, others remained open but found different ways to show solidarity.

At Reem’s California Mission, owner Reem Assil tells us her restaurant was offering free coffee to those attending the protest in Dolores Park.

Assil says while she supports the movement, she also has to pay her staff.

“January is record low numbers for a lot of food businesses. So we need to do what we can to support our employees,” said Assil.

At Green Apple Books in the Inner Sunset, manager Brad Bryant says he let his workers leave early if they wanted to protest.

The company will make a donation to the Minnesota Immigration Law Center based off of their sales from Friday.

“Independent bookstores have for a long time been a seat of activism. So we provide resources to our community to assist them in protesting,” said Bryant.

At businesses that were closed, several would-be customers say they support the action.

Outside City Lights Bookstore in North Beach, tourist Christine Sterkel says she didn’t mind the inconvenience.

“I was delighted to see they’re standing in solidarity with people whose voices need to be heard,” said Sterkel.

And despite the continued federal immigration crackdown, people like Assil say Friday’s protests gives them some comfort.

“It actually brings us hope that people are more galvanized, activated, organized. So to me this give me hope,” he said.