RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH. BUT THOSE WHO DID WALK OUT WERE MARKED ABSENT. MANY BUSINESSES ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THIS NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION BY CLOSING THEIR DOORS AS A WAY TO PROTEST ICE KCRA 3’S MARICELA DE LA CRUZ SPOKE TO THOSE WHO CLOSED UP FOR THE DAY AND OTHERS WHO STAYED OPEN, BUT ALSO SHOWED THEIR SUPPORT. WE JUST HAVE TO ORGANIZE IT. AS HUNDREDS OF PROTESTERS TOOK TO THE STREETS IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO. NO JUSTICE. REPORTER THE MESSAGE FROM SOME RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WAS TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT AND JOIN A NATIONWIDE STRIKE, PROTESTING ACTIONS BY ICE. WE WANT TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. SUPPORTERS CALLING THE MOVEMENT A NATIONAL SHUTDOWN, PROMOTED AS NO WORK, NO SCHOOL, NO SHOPPING. WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON LATELY, IN MY EYES, IS JUST PART OF A BIGGER PROBLEM. AND I THINK THAT DUE TO RECENT EVENTS, I THINK IT’S GREAT THAT PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE COMING TOGETHER. AND MOTHER RESTAURANT. THIS PARTIAL CLOSURE THIS FRIDAY, JANUARY 30TH, THERE’S MORE IMPORTANT THINGS THAN MONEY IN THIS WORLD. YOU KNOW, AND AS HARD AS RESTAURANT BUSINESS IS, WE’RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND WE WANT TO, AGAIN, KIND OF DO WHAT WHAT’S WHAT’S RIGHT NEEDS TO BE DONE. A FEW BLOCKS AWAY, NANCY GUZMAN SAYS SHE CHOSE TO CLOSE HER COFFEE SHOP FOR THE DAY. IT IS A TOUGH CHOICE TO MAKE FINANCIALLY, BUT THIS IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN JUST ONE DAY OF SALES. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT’S GOING ON AND THE PAIN AND THE HURT THAT’S HAPPENING, YOU CAN’T PUT A PRICE ON THAT. SOME BUSINESSES CLOSED, OTHERS STAYED OPEN, BUT FOUND OTHER WAYS TO PARTICIPATE. I THINK WHAT THEY’RE DOING IS A GREAT CAUSE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND, YOU KNOW, TO SPREAD AWARENESS AND TO PROVIDE ALSO OTHER PEOPLE WITH GREAT COFFEE AND GREAT GOODS. AT OFFBEAT COFFEE, OWNERS COMMITTED TO DONATING PROCEEDS TO THE COALITION FOR HUMANE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, KNOWN AS CHIRLA. AND IT WAS A GOOD ENOUGH REASON FOR SOME TO STAND IN LINE. I SAW THAT THEY WERE DONATING ALL OF THEIR PROCEEDS TO. CHIRLA, AND I’VE ACTUALLY USED IT MYSELF, SO I THINK THAT’S A
Several Sacramento businesses join national protest against ICE
Updated: 8:06 PM PST Jan 30, 2026
A number of businesses in Sacramento joined a nationwide protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday by closing their doors and encouraging people to skip work, school and shopping.Hundreds of protesters met at the Cesar Chavez plaza and then took to the streets in downtown Sacramento, with chants calling for ICE to be out. That group marched along I Street from 9th to 5th, then made their way to N Street and met another group of demonstrators behind the John Moss Federal Building in Downtown Sacramento. After about 20 minutes, they made their way to 10th Street right in front of the Capitol, and ended their event back at Cesar Chavez, three hours later. The message from some residents and business owners was to show their support and join the nationwide strike protesting ICE’s actions. “We want to be on the right side of history,” supporters said.Rob Venditti, owner of Mother restaurant in midtown Sacramento, participated by partially closing his establishment on Friday, Jan. 30. “What’s been going on lately, in my eyes, is just part of a bigger problem. I think that due to recent events, it’s great that people all over the country are coming together,” Venditti said. He added, “There are more important things than money in this world, and as a restaurant, we’re all on the same page, and we want to do what’s right and needs to be done.”Nancy Guzman, owner of Balance Coffee Shop, chose to close her shop for the day. “It is a tough choice to make financially, but this is so much bigger than just one day of sales. When you think about what’s going on and the pain and that hurt that’s happening, you can’t put a price on that,” Guzman said.While some businesses closed, others stayed open but found alternative ways to participate. At Offbeat Coffee, owners are committed to donating proceeds to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), which motivated some customers to stand in line. Michelle Aspurial expressed support for the cause, saying, “I think what they’re doing is a great cause for our community and spreading awareness, and providing people with great coffee and great goods.”Adriana Langarica added, “I saw that they were donating all of their proceeds to CHIRLA, and I’ve actually used CHIRLA myself, so I think it’s a great opportunity to give back.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
A number of businesses in Sacramento joined a nationwide protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday by closing their doors and encouraging people to skip work, school and shopping.
Hundreds of protesters met at the Cesar Chavez plaza and then took to the streets in downtown Sacramento, with chants calling for ICE to be out. That group marched along I Street from 9th to 5th, then made their way to N Street and met another group of demonstrators behind the John Moss Federal Building in Downtown Sacramento. After about 20 minutes, they made their way to 10th Street right in front of the Capitol, and ended their event back at Cesar Chavez, three hours later. <>
The message from some residents and business owners was to show their support and join the nationwide strike protesting ICE’s actions. “We want to be on the right side of history,” supporters said.
Rob Venditti, owner of Mother restaurant in midtown Sacramento, participated by partially closing his establishment on Friday, Jan. 30.
“What’s been going on lately, in my eyes, is just part of a bigger problem. I think that due to recent events, it’s great that people all over the country are coming together,” Venditti said. He added, “There are more important things than money in this world, and as a restaurant, we’re all on the same page, and we want to do what’s right and needs to be done.”
Nancy Guzman, owner of Balance Coffee Shop, chose to close her shop for the day.
“It is a tough choice to make financially, but this is so much bigger than just one day of sales. When you think about what’s going on and the pain and that hurt that’s happening, you can’t put a price on that,” Guzman said.
While some businesses closed, others stayed open but found alternative ways to participate. At Offbeat Coffee, owners are committed to donating proceeds to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), which motivated some customers to stand in line.
Michelle Aspurial expressed support for the cause, saying, “I think what they’re doing is a great cause for our community and spreading awareness, and providing people with great coffee and great goods.”
Adriana Langarica added, “I saw that they were donating all of their proceeds to CHIRLA, and I’ve actually used CHIRLA myself, so I think it’s a great opportunity to give back.”
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel