‘Worth fighting for’: Boise businesses support immigrants, protest ICE on Friday
Friday marked the start of a nationwide strike following the killing of two people recently in Minnesota by federal ICE agents. Some Boise businesses joined in.
Immigrant advocacy groups across the U.S. called for “no work, no school, no shopping” to protest the Trump administration’s immigration policies, and the killing of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Minneapolis streets.
Some businesses in Boise and are closing their doors to show solidarity with advocates and protest ICE. Others chose to stay open, but are donating their sales to advocacy groups.
The Record Exchange
The Record Exchange, Idaho’s largest independent music store and vinyl record shop, planned to donating all sale proceeds to three organizations that help immigrants.
The store’s manager, Brion Rushton, told the Idaho Statesman that proceeds would got to the ACLU of Idaho, Idaho Familias Assistance Fund, PODER of Idaho, and Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.
“The actions from this last weekend really showed just how stark and serious things are with ICE and communities all across the country,” Rushton said.
He said the staff initially thought about closing the store to observe the strike, but wanted to keep the shop open as a community space, and use what money they would normally receive to give to people and organizations in need.
“Instead of losing sales, why not just raise money instead,” Rushton said. “Some things are just worth fighting for and standing up for. We feel that the country is really at a crossroads right now, and whatever hit we incur, we can make up for in the long run.”
Rushton said the record store received a lot of positive feedback on social media from its decision to donate funds. He said that since opening at 10 a.m., the store has had more business than usual on a Friday.
Calle 75 Street Tacos
Calle 75 Street Tacos, a family-owned Mexican restaurant and catering service, went to Facebook to say it was “standing in solidarity with the National Blackout.”
One of the founders is the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, the post read. “Our food, our way of showing up come from lived experience, family history, and culture, not trends.”
“We are closing for the day to pause, to reflect, and to stand with communities who are being targeted, erased, or asked to be silent. This space has always been about more than tacos. It’s about roots, resilience, and respect,” according to the post.
The restaurant says it will reopen next week and continue to cook “with intention, honoring where we come from, and serving our community with heart.”
Sagebrush Collaborative
Sagebrush Collaborative, a brick and mortar space for vendors selling handmade goods and for local artists, is open with limited hours and taking only cash, a portion of which will be donated, it said in a post on Instagram.
The organization also encouraged its customers to donate to organizations and call elected representatives to urge action against ICE in Idaho.
“We stand with Minnesota. We want ICE out of our communities. Art is political. Do what you can where you are,” the post read.
Knitting as a form of protest
At a yarn store downtown, I Yarn for Ewe, owner Kerrie Nicholson was selling red-dyed yarn from her other company, Trilogy Yarns, and donating the proceeds to PODER of Idaho.
The red yarn is meant to be used to make a specific hat she said has historical symbolism. In the 1940s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country, according to Nicholson.
A similar hat to the one Norwegians would make, called Melt the ICE hat by creator YarnCultMN, is making waves among advocates and knitters nationwide. All proceeds of the pattern for the hat go toward immigrant aid agencies, the business’s website states.
Nicholson said because I Yarn for Ewe is a community-oriented yarn store, she believed it was important to show she “stands with the community.”
“Fiber arts have long been part of the democratic expression and mutual aid,” Nicholson said. “People gather, we make, we teach and we support one another across backgrounds and beliefs, and we stand for that tradition.
“I want to welcome shared humanity and civic courage, and we believe creative, creative communities play an important role in protecting democratic values.”
Breweries and restaurants make statements
Local brewery Barbarian Brewing showed its stance through a small batch of beer released Thursday called “Pretti Good Pale,” after Pretti and Good. All sales of the beer will be donated to two local nonprofits serving immigrants and refugees, it said in a Facebook post this week.
“The name Pretti Good Pale exists because we didn’t want to be bystanders. Our intention is simple: show up, support our neighbors, and act with care,” the post read.
The brewery did not say which organizations would receive the donations and did not immediately respond to a request for an interview.
Other businesses have made social media posts stating they do not agree with ICE enforcement tactics throughout the country. Those include OldSpeak Bar, Boise Brewing and Red Bench Pizza, which received negative backlash and then much more positive feedback after posting an anti-ICE message.
Protests, vigils and solidarity bike rides
Along with opting out of shopping, work and school, there will be several protests and gatherings Friday to call for action against ICE.
A protest will be taking place at 2:30 p.m. at the Idaho Capitol, followed by a vigil for Pretti at the Boise Veterans Administration Medical Center at 4:30 p.m.
On Saturday, the Boise Bicycle Project is joining a nationwide bike ride “in solidarity with the people of Minneapolis and its Angry Catfish bikeshop in memoriam of Alex Pretti, Renee Good.”
“We are inspired and galvanized by all good-faith actors across our country, from Minneapolis to here in Boise, who fearlessly show up to advocate for a community and a nation where all are safe, welcome and supported,” the organization stated in an Instagram post.
