Sacramento Businesses Take a Stand: Why Skipping Work Heralds a New Era of Activism

In a remarkable display of solidarity, several businesses in Sacramento decided to close their doors on January 30 to join a nationwide protest against the actions taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The movement encouraged people to skip work, school, and shopping to send a powerful message demanding justice and change. As hundreds of protesters gathered at Cesar Chavez Plaza, the air was filled with chants calling for a rethinking of how ICE operates in the community.

Among the participating business owners was Rob Venditti, who runs Mother restaurant, stressing that there are greater issues at play than just daily profits. He remarked that recent events have highlighted a broader problem, and it’s great to see people across the nation coming together. Nancy Guzman, the owner of Balance Coffee Shop, echoed that sentiment when she made the tough decision to close her shop for the day, highlighting that some things are simply priceless.

Not all businesses opted to shut down, however. Offbeat Coffee remained open and made waves by committing all their proceeds that day to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA). This inspired many customers to line up, eager to support a cause while indulging their caffeine cravings. It’s a heartening reminder that when communities come together—armed with coffee and conviction—they can brew up real change!