Giovani Tejeda (4) and his sister Madison (7) hold signs during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. One in every 3.5 people in Houston is born in a foreign country compared to 1 in 8 nationwide. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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Giovani Tejeda (4) and his sister Madison (7) hold signs during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. One in every 3.5 people in Houston is born in a foreign country compared to 1 in 8 nationwide. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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Sergio Lira, center, gestures during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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Sergio Lira, center, gestures during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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The crowd reacts during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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The crowd reacts during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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The crowd reacts during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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The crowd reacts during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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Deyanira Guterrez (8) waves flags during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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Deyanira Guterrez (8) waves flags during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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The Mexican flag flies during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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The Mexican flag flies during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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Benjamin Sifuentes holds a sign during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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Benjamin Sifuentes holds a sign during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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The crowd reacts during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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The crowd reacts during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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Participants hold flags during the the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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Participants hold flags during the the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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A man calling himself a “red-blooded-American-Marine” is escorted off the premises during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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A man calling himself a “red-blooded-American-Marine” is escorted off the premises during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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The crowd gathers during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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The crowd gathers during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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The crowd reacts during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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The crowd reacts during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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The crowd reacts during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
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The crowd reacts during the rally to emphasize “A Day Without Immigrants” at Guadalupe Plaza, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Michael Paulsen
A decade ago, the Great American Boycott on May 1, 2006 saw millions of immigrants and supporters march in cities across the country in response to proposed changes to U.S. immigration laws. Schools, restaurants and other businesses—including Cargill Meat Solutions and Goya Foods—closed or halted operations on that day.
Today, another grassroots campaign, the Day Without Immigrants, saw businesses close nationwide as immigrant labor took the day off in protest of the hard-line enforcement policies pursued by President Donald Trump’s administration.
In Houston, restaurants including Torchy’s Tacos, Pollo Bravo and Tacos a Go-Go—even some McDonald’s—closed their doors in solidarity with their employees, while several hundred gathered for a Day Without Immigrants rally in the East End’s Guadalupe Plaza starting at 6 p.m. The peaceful protests saw flags, banners, signs and calls for respect for the foreign-born immigrants who make up nearly one-third of Houston’s population.
