Day Without Immigrants protest strike closes some NYC businesses

Rose Abuin and Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News on Feb 3, 2025

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NEW YORK — Some businesses in New York City were closed Monday as part of A Day Without Immigrants, a nationwide protest strike calling attention to the role immigrants play in the U.S. economy.

Many stores along Port Richmond Avenue in Staten Island were closed, including Home Furnishings Depot, which had a sign posted on its closed gate reading “Support the immigrant community, united we will never be defeated.”

Employees of the furniture store opened as usual on Monday morning but were told by owner Eithan Elul to close and join the protest.

“My boss decided to close the store,” said Lenny Flores, an employee the furniture store reached by phone. “He has immigrants working for him and he’s very involved in what’s going on. He’s a person that’s very involved in the community.”

“We went, we opened up the store and he said ‘No, no, no, take the day off, close, let’s go,’” she said.

San Jeronimo Deli & Grocery, also on Port Richmond Ave., had a bright yellow sign on its rolldown gate announcing in Spanish why it would be closed Monday.

“Joining with the call for peaceful protest in relation to the immigration cause that has been taking place in the country and the increase in the prices of Mexican products that will affect both businesses and consumers.”

“Let’s unite for a day!”

Mexico In My Pocket, a gift shop in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, was closed as part of the day of action.

“Closed today in honor of A Day Without Immigrants,” read a sign posted on the front door.

Organizers of the protest encouraged immigrants to forego work, shopping and school.

“Let’s raise our voices for our rights and our families,” an Instagram post promoting the protest reads.

The protest comes against a backdrop of renewed ICE raids in New York City and elsewhere in the country since President Donald Trump took office last month.

An earlier Day Without Immigrants protest took place on Feb. 17 2017, right after Trump was sworn into office for the first time and immediately took aim at immigrants for mass deportation.

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With Cayla Bamberger