Bay Area businesses close, rally held in solidarity of 'A Day Without Immigrants'

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Local businesses and community members took part in a protest called "A Day Without Immigrants."

Across the country and right here in the Bay Area many chose not to work or attend school for "A Day Without Immigrants".

"Highlighting the contributions that immigrants have made on our economy, on our communities," said Gabby Chavez Lopez, executive director of Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley.

In Oakland, at Fruitvale Plaza, dozens came together to rally for immigrants' rights and against ICE raids and Deportations.

Organizers say the goal behind the day of action is to show immigrants' impact on the US economy.

They say an estimated 31 million migrants contribute significantly to the nation's workforce.

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The decision to close businesses Monday wasn't easy for some.

Susana Torres who owns Bizzy Fit Meals in East San Jose said it's a big hit financially.

"For a company like myself that makes healthy meals. Sundays and Mondays are when people pick up for the week," she said.

But Torres said the decision to close was to honor her parents, immigrants who paved the way for her to become a business owner.

"I've never seen my parents ask the government for anything, anything. I've seen them have multiple jobs and I can't say they didn't contribute," she said, "I'm here. That's contribution."

Despite the financial hit Torres said she'd had incredible conversations with clients who came to find her closed Monday.

"The rewarding part was to talk to my clients and let them know what is going on, how they can help, and that I appreciate their support," she said.

It wasn't just businesses, nonprofits like the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley also closed their doors.

"We wanted to make sure that we here in San Jose can do our parts to really stand with those communities and make sure that their contributions and everything that they pour into this community is highlighted and felt," Chavez Lopez said.

The nonprofit is hopeful that the message sent Monday is one that's heard far and wide.

Several businesses and street vendors across the Bay Area are closed on Monday in protest of U.S. immigration policies.

Casa de la Condesa Restaurant in San Francisco's Mission District is one of many businesses closed.

And street vendors that would normally line Mission Street, mostly gone on Monday morning.

"It's not to affect businesses, it's just to prove we have power with our money and we can contribute it to the country's economy," said Rodrigo Lopez, President of the Mission Street Vendors Association.

Lopez is President of the Mission Street Vendors Association and also works as a street vendor himself.

But on Monday, he chose not to work, standing in solidarity of "A Day Without Immigrants."

This is an annual day of protest, but it was moved up a few months in response to President Donald Trump's immigration policies with no school, no work and no shopping.

"We play almost the same role like everyone, we pay taxes," Lopez said. "We buy houses, we buy cars, we spend money like every single day, like everybody else, it's no different, we are the same."

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And Lopez doesn't believe every immigrant should be categorized as an illegal criminal.

"Maybe just a small portion of people, they can be bad actors, they can do the wrong things. But the majority of these immigrants, they are families, they are working to make a living," Lopez said. "We're here because we have a dream, we're here because we want a better life for ourselves and our families," he said.

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And he hopes this day of action happening across the country will send a bigger message to President Trump's administration.

"Yes, there has to be control of the border, yes everyone agrees, we need control of that, but there has to be a different way, everyone is in fear," he said.