Some Wisconsinites are joining a national Day of Action Friday in support of Minnesota and in protest of a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdown.
Supporters have been calling for “no school, no work, no shopping,” as they urge participants to call out of work or school and to refrain from spending money.
In Wisconsin, some small businesses, like Monona Bakery and Eatery in suburban Madison, have announced they’re closing shop for the day. Others businesses, including the Milwaukee-based Strange Town restaurant, are donating portions of their profits to benefit immigrant rights and community aid groups. And some establishments, like Ruby’s Bagels in Milwaukee, are closing early so that employees have time to attend to protests.
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TJ Semanchin, owner of the Viroqua-based Wonderstate Coffee, said he’s among the Wisconsinites who feel a sense of connection to “our neighbors to the west” in Minnesota.
Wonderstate closed its cafes Friday.
“Now is the time to do what we can, to keep putting pressure on our politicians, to fight for accountability, to rein in ICE activities,” Semanchin said.
Semachin said Wonderstate employees are still being paid Friday.
“This was our our choice as a leadership team to close so we didn’t want this to financially impact our cafe staff,” he said.
In Milwaukee, a rally is slated for 2 p.m. at Cathedral Square Park. Students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are planning a 2 p.m. walkout starting at the campus’ Library Mall and ending with a 3:30 p.m. rally at the state Capitol.
A few miles from the Capitol building, A Room of One’s Own Bookstore closed down its shop in solidarity.
But the Madison business kept an event space next to the store open Friday afternoon, so that people could make protest signs, sip warm beverages and participate in a free book swap.
Friday’s events are the latest in a round of Wisconsin-based protests after President Donald Trump’s administration sent thousands of immigration agents to the Twin Cities area in Minnesota. Calls to action have intensified following the killings by federal agents of Minnesota residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier this month.
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