Tacoma businesses provide safe spaces, resources for “National Shutdown”
From restaurants to museums, dozens of businesses across Tacoma closed as part of a general strike Friday to recognize the “National Shutdown” protesting the Trump administration’s actions in Minneapolis and beyond.
A general strike is an action where workers from various industries cease economic activity, whether by not working or not purchasing anything, to catalyze change in their society.
Friday’s “National Shutdown” called for people to pause working, spending money or going to school to stand against Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, according to the movement’s website.
But for some small businesses, an entire day off spells a crucial loss of revenue they just can’t afford to take. So, despite remaining open, many local haunts are showing their solidarity through different approaches.
Three Hearts Cafe in Hilltop announced on Instagram it is donating $500 to La Resistencia Northwest, a pro-immigrant activist organization, and encouraged customers to use cash to “keep money out of credit card company’s pockets,” the post read.
“We’re a small business so we can’t afford to close for the day,” café owner Will Eder said. “But we very much stand in solidarity.”
After posting in support of the strike on Instagram, the café lost several followers. To that, Eder says “good riddance.”
The store has been packed this Friday, and he hopes its support of the strike inspires conversations among customers.
“I want to be a place that’s able to stand up against injustices like this,” he said.
The Jade Lounge, a bubble tea store in central Tacoma, also remained open today. The small family-owned business is not in the financial position to close on a weekend day, said co-owner Kelly Tran.
The business encouraged customers to treat the store as a safe space, and urged people to create posters and call their representatives, it said in a post on Instagram.
“For us, it’s more so having a safe space where people feel comfortable enough to make change, but also just sit with their thoughts,” Tran said.
Tran and many other employees at The Jade Lounge are children of immigrants, making the strike hit even closer to home.
“It is a bit scary, because my parents literally have been calling me this week being like, ‘Hey, you need to carry your passport on you,’” Tran said. “It doesn’t really matter what your status is because, at the end of the day, they’re profiling you, and it is really heartbreaking.”
Another open business offering support is Howdy Bagel in south Tacoma. The shop is staying open Friday and providing printed materials for customers informing them of their rights and ways to deal with ICE in their neighborhoods, it shared on Instagram.
“Howdy was really born from the idea of creating a space where everyone is welcome, safe and celebrated, no matter who they are or who they love,” Madison Frambes, an employee at Howdy Bagel, said. “And so as such, we feel that it is also our responsibility to create and maintain a safe space by speaking out when there are injustices occurring in our communities.”
Many of Howdy Bagel’s customers are paying in cash and taking the informational pamphlets the store is providing. They even had a couple of people visiting from Minnesota come in today, Frambes said.
“[The Minnesotans] were just talking about how stressful things are back home and how really they’re grateful that Tacoma is rallying like this and people are standing up in solidarity,” she said. “We’re really grateful to be a part of this community.”
