Day Without Immigrants (orA Day Without Immigrants) was aprotest andboycott that took place on February 16, 2017, to demonstrate the importance ofimmigration,[1][2] and to protest PresidentDonald Trump's plans to build aborder wall and to potentially deport millions ofundocumented immigrants.[3] The strike called for immigrants not to go to work, to avoid spending money, and keep children home from school.[4] People took part to show the importance of immigrants to the economy and also to protest possibleracial profiling of U.S. citizens by immigration enforcement.[5] The strike was planned onsocial media.[6] People first started talking about the strike after theWomen's March, and as the idea gained momentum, important people in the restaurant industry helped boost exposure.[7]
In Austin, only 60 percent of students attended school in the KIPP Austin Comunidad charter school network.[6] TheFort Worth Independent School District saw their elementary school attendance rate go down by 35 percent.[13] Thousands of children inFresno County did not attend school.[21]
InMilwaukee, a similar event took place on February 13, 2017, called "A Day Without Latinos."[22]
TheDavis Museum at Wellesley College removed from the display or cloaked in black cloth about 20 per cent of the museum's display; the 120 works of art had either been created or donated by an immigrant.[23]
In Chicago, a rally took place atUnion Park with hundreds of workers marching towards the Mexican consulate on Ashland Avenue at noon on Thursday.[24] Hundreds of demonstrators marched from the Austin City Hall to theTexas State Capitol.[25] Protesters gathered outside city hall inHomestead, Florida.[26] A demonstration was held inFrankfort at theKentucky State Capitol.[27]
Some restaurants that stayed open have said they will donate part of their proceeds from Thursday to immigrant advocacy organizations.[4]
District of Columbia Public Schools Chief John Davis emailed principals stating: "all students and staff are expected to be in school throughout the day".[29]
Teachers fromRubidoux High School inJurupa Valley, California commented disparagingly onLatino students missing classes on social media. Because of the controversy and their comments, they were placed on paid leave while an investigation takes place.[30]
Some restaurants fired their workers who chose to take an unexcused day off on the 16th. Twelve Hispanic workers inCatoosa, Oklahoma were fired for not showing up to work.[31] In Nashville, 18 people lost their jobs for skipping work to take part in the boycott.[32] JVS Masonry in Denver fired around 30 workers for not coming into work on that Thursday.[33] Twenty-one people were fired from Encore Boat Builders for failing to show for their scheduled work day.[34]
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Media related toDay Without Immigrants 2017 at Wikimedia Commons