Dozens of Maine businesses plan to participate in a nationwide shutdown Friday in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity by closing their doors or donating sales to organizations that support the immigrant community.
The strike, organized at NationalShutdown.us, is billed as “ICE OUT! Nationwide Shutdown! No work. No school. No shopping.” It aims to get the attention of political leaders by disrupting the economy and show support for the immigrant community, much of which in Portland has stayed home from work in the past week out of fear of being detained.
As part of the shutdown, social media posts show that a protest event is being planned for 3 p.m. Friday in Portland’s Monument Square.
While many local businesses plan to close on Friday, others that support the cause will remain open because closing isn’t feasible for a variety of reasons, said Amy Landry, board president of Portland Buy Local. They are reaching out in other ways.
“Whether open or closed, businesses are donating profits, gathering supplies and volunteering with local nonprofits,” Landry said. “What we’re seeing is that local businesses are supporting our community in ways that feel right to them.”
Friends & Family on Congress Street is one of many restaurants planning to close on Friday. In a social media post announcing the decision, co-owner Cecily Upton explained its sacrifice in making this move, which has her staff’s full support.
“This was a tough one,” the post reads. “Friday is the busiest night of the week, during the slowest season of the year. This will impact all of our staff greatly as we share tips across all staff and all days of the week. Our staff have unanimously supported the decision for us to close our doors.”
Sonja Swanberg, co-owner of Scratch Bakery in South Portland, said her business will stay open Friday, but it’s donating 100% of profits that day to three local groups: the Maine Solidarity Fund, Maine Needs and Project Relief Maine.
“I felt for us, it would be more impactful (than closing) and really make a difference to some of the organizations on the ground that are helping the immigrants in Maine,” Swanberg said, noting that she respects every business owner’s decision to close or stay open. “We feed people, that is our mission. It just felt right for us to be able to do this.”
Birch Shambaugh, co-owner of Woodford Food & Beverage on Forest Avenue, is also staying open, donating 10% of sales Friday to the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition. “We feel like we can do more good for our community by being open than we can by being closed,” Shambaugh said.
But Woodford’s decision has already generated blowback from some social media commenters.
“We’re being called scabs and all these unpleasant things that go down particularly hard for a group of people here who are caring and spent years trying to move the needle in a positive fashion in our community,” Shambaugh said.
Nikaline Iacono has chosen to close her Brunswick wine shop, Vessel & Vine. “The hospitality industry is greatly tied to the immigrant population in the state of Maine,” she said. “Vessel & Vine is a community gathering space more than anything, and I just wanted to express support and solidarity.
“I hope if nothing else, it gives people pause for one moment,” she added. “This is an opportunity to take a stand and maybe inspire some sort of thought, even if it’s just in one person.”
Chris Gould, co-owner of Tipo and Central Provisions in Portland, said closing those restaurants Friday comes at a cost. “Closing on a Friday in January is probably the hardest decision to make out of all of it. It’s our slow season and one of the few days we make money in the winter. But we always put our morals before our money.”
Gould said shutting down is an opportunity to raise awareness about the immigration enforcement crisis.
“I hope this brings some attention to what’s going on, and shows that the majority of us feel the same way,” Gould said. “It shows solidarity, and that we have the ability to make change.”
