Seattle-area businesses, students join national general strike
With small business closures and student walkouts, some in the Seattle-area participated in a national protest against ICE Friday, Jan. 30. Others opted to use the day to raise money in support of people in Minneapolis.
"Our doors will be closed on Friday, January 30 in solidarity with the nationwide shutdown & general strike," Hood Famous Cafe and Bar wrote on Instagram. "If you are an ICE official or supporter, our doors are closed to you every day."
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Both the Seattle Art Museum and the Tacoma Art Museum closed their doors Friday. SAM released a statement, noting that it intended to open for free to the public, but "due to higher than anticipated staff shortages, we're not able to safely open our locations and are closed."
TAM planned to be closed on Monday, stating: "This action is in acknowledgement of the emotional weight of community members living in fear due to the horrific events in Minneapolis, and in solidarity with museum colleagues and arts communities there and other places around the US. We will resume normal operations on Saturday as a place for respite and reconnection."
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At the University of Washington, a small crowd of students gathered in Red Square to protest ICE.
National shutdown in Seattle
The general strike on Jan. 30 was organized by the 50501 group, which has organized protests against the Trump administration in the past. Calling it a "general strike" or "national shutdown," the activist group called on a stop to business and other regular activities over the day — no shopping, no going to class, no going in to work.
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RELATED: A look at the 50501 movement behind the protests in D.C.
Faye Gunther is president of UFCW 3000, which represents 50,000 grocery and healthcare workers across Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. She told Sound Politics that her union was not organizing the Jan. 30 protest, but said it supported the call for a nationwide shutdown. She further explained the rhetoric behind the action.
"We know that the only way to actually make real change it to basically take on the corporate power that exists and make sure we are stopping how business is flowing," Gunther said. "Because it is what people care about the most, whether it's Republicans or Democrats. What they care about the most is the money. If the money stops flowing, we can make clear demands and make real changes."
"If the chambers are calling on the Trump administration to not send ICE agents here, or to take ICE agents out, if Target is doing that, if these big corporations are like, 'Trump, no more,' that is who is controlling the Trump administration ... and that is the power we have to turn off," she added.
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Other businesses in Seattle opted to remain open Friday. Instead, they are donating a portion of their proceeds to businesses in Minneapolis, as that city has become a focal point for this national issue.
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A list of more than 70 small businesses was making the rounds online. Spice Walla, an Indian restaurant, was offering a special menu item for donations that day.
Unrelated to the protest news, another Seattle business posted a statement Friday in response to political information being passed around online. Elliott Bay Brewing said that its business was included in an online list of businesses affiliated with MAGA politics, which it called "misinformation."
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"Recently, our business was included in an online post that made a claim about our political affiliation, which is completely untrue. Elliott Bay Brewing does not identify with, endorse, or support any political movement or organization associated with MAGA," Elliott Bay Brewing stated.
