Boyle Heights joins nationwide ‘Day Without Immigrants’ boycott

Activists in Boyle Heights are planning a protest rally Thursday afternoon at Mariachi Plaza as part of the national “Day Without Immigrants boycott towards businesses, work, and school.

Protests are expected to happen in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and other cities with large immigrant populations, according to the Los Angeles Times.  The Los Angeles Unified School District sent a voicemail to parents and staff Wednesday to encourage everyone to attend school today instead of protesting, The Times reports.

In spite of that message, a Twitter user who identifies herself as an educator posted this picture of her empty classroom in a Lincoln Heights school on Thursday:

When your students are woke, undocumented, allies and proud. #DayWithoutImmigrants #UnDiaSinInmigrantes ??✊? pic.twitter.com/wYEkmx6d0F

— Brittany A. Estrada (@EstradaShares) February 16, 2017

Mariachi Plaza was the scene of a march last month in response to President Trump’s anti-immigrant policies. Today’s protest comes nearly a week after immigration officials arrested more than 160 immigrants across Southern California. Most of those reportedly have a criminal history.

Activists plan to gather at Mariachi Plaza at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

The call for the “Day Without Immigrants” boycott aims to take away the dollars that immigrants contribute to the economy. Immigrants in Los Angeles county contribute $300 billion in tax revenue to the local economy, regardless of their legal status, according to an NPR story quoting County Supervisor Hilda Solís says.

Some Southern California businesses have posted notices on social media advising customers that they will join in the boycott by closing their shops. The owner of Quetzal Boutique in East Los Angeles posted this on Instagram:

Remember if you participate in this boycott, the purpose is to not only not show up to work but to not use ANYTHING. No electricity, no gas, no cell, no phone, no internet, no transport. With that, we disconnect and join this movement. #adaywithoutimmigrants #resist #daywithoutimmigrants #boycott #nobannowall #iceoutofla #quetzalcollection #eastla

A post shared by Quetzal Boutique (@quetzalboutique) on Feb 16, 2017 at 12:26am PST

The owner of a fish taco business in the Los Feliz neighborhood accordingly posted this on his Twitter account:

Hola everyone! RFT WILL BE CLOSED TODAY THU. 2/16/17 in solidarity with our fellow immigrants. See u again soon! Ricky.

— Ricky’s Fish Tacos (@RickysFishTacos) February 16, 2017