Businesses across Vermont have taken to social media to declare their support of Friday’s nationwide general strike, but many stopped short of shutting their doors for the entire day. The national shutdown effort is a response to President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and U.S. Immigrati on and Customs Enforcement’s recent show of force across the country and particularly in Minneapolis. In Burlington, for example, City Market said it is “deeply troubled by the ongoing disregard for civil rights that is happening in our country right now” and will close both grocery store locations from 3 to 4 p.m. “to support the nationwide ICE OUT demonstrations.” Santiago’s Cuban Cuisine on Burlington’s waterfront was among relatively few businesses to close completely for the day. Rather than make the decision himself, chef-owner Oscar Arencibia said he polled his staff of 16, many of whom need the income from a busy Friday night. “Democracy seems like the thing we should be leading with, so I led with that,” Arencibia said of his decision to put it to a vote. The “overwhelming majority” voted to close, he said. “The price on our conscience would be greater than any money the business would make if we stayed open.” Many others announced that they would remain open but pledged to donate varying percentages of Friday’s sales to nonprofits such as Migrant Justice. Phoenix Books said its three stores in Burlington, Essex and Rutland would stay open but that 20 percent of all sales from January 30 through February 6 would go to the Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund. The grassroots shutdown movement gathered steam across the country following the most recent killing of a protester, Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis on January 24 during demonstrations against aggressive ICE activity. Student groups at the University of Minnesota have led the call for “No work. No school. No shopping. Stop funding ICE.” As reported by Seven Days, Pretti’s death prompted Gov. Phil Scott to depart from his previous cautious stance on speaking out against the Trump administration. “It’s not acceptable for American citizens to be killed by federal agents for exercising their God-given and constitutional rights to protest their government,” Scott wrote in a public statement. But, as many local businesses articulated in their posts, the decision to close and sacrifice much-needed income for owners and employees is not an easy one at a typically slow time of year. Donwoori Korean restaurant, which recently moved to a new Winooski location, cited the importance of weekend business in staying afloat. Its post said it would donate a percentage of sales but that, “As a small, independent restaurant, closing our doors just isn’t something we can realistically do.” Wallflower Collective, a bar and music venue in downtown Burlington, echoed Donwoori, saying, “We rely on weekends to make ends meet.” The post also noted that Wallflower is committed to hosting acts for the three-day Groundhog Fest this weekend. “If missing work, or closing up shop, is not a viable option for you, please know that there are many ways in which to wield power, to protest and to strengthen your community,” the post continued, including supporting art and spending locally. In Stowe, Rachel Moore, executive director of the Current, said her decision to close the contemporary art gallery was “a really simple but important act of solidarity.” The Current has a mission to focus on social and racial justice and works with many artists and students who are immigrants, Moore said. “Very few of us are not immigrants in this country,” she added. “It’s what makes America amazing.” The post Vermont Stores, Restaurants and Venues Support Nationwide Strike Against ICE appeared first on Seven Days. ...read more read less