A ‘Day Without Immigrants’ Chicago: Business Owners in the whole city close Monday to protest President Trump’s immigration policy

Chicago (WLS) – Some of the companies you visit may be closed Monday.

It is to protest against President Donald Trump’s administration. It’s called a “day without immigrants”.

Business owners in Chicago participating in the protest say this is their way of showing the power of the immigrant community.

Omar Corral published a sign outside his popular Southwest Side Mexican Ice Cream Shop La Michoacana Premium, which tells patrons that it will be closed Monday by a case.

He participates in more than 60 companies in Illinois and California participating in a “day without immigrants.”

The social media -driven campaign encourages immigrants to stay home from work and school closes businesses and refrains from shopping.

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“Me as an entrepreneur, to show support for my Latino community. Be the voice of the people who do not have one, and together, we are determined, we are bigger. Together we make things happen, make a change.”

The president & CEO of Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce says that while he understands the passion behind the protest, he fears this could hurt more than help.

President and CEO of Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Jaime di Paulo, said, while understanding the passion behind the protest, he fears it could hurt more than help.

“We are the livelihood of society. If we go down, the community goes down,” said Di Paulo. “We’ve seen it in many areas of the city of Chicago, so I encourage people to do what they want to do, but if they ask me, they have to open the stores and encourage people to shop locals.”

The chamber president believes that people should not act for fear, but rather strategize to help support local businesses, which he says has lost money in the wake of new immigration policies.

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