On February 3, several DC restaurants, including Republic Cantina and Hiraya, closed for a "Day Without Immigrants," protesting against Trump's immigration policies. Owners, like Chris Svetlik and Paolo Dungca, expressed concerns about the impact of anti-immigrant rhetoric on their staff, highlighting the integral role of immigrants in the hospitality industry. Some restaurant owners faced isolated threats related to the protest but received overall supportive responses. This initiative was reminiscent of a larger protest in February 2017, where over 100 local restaurants participated to draw attention to the significance of immigrant contributions in their communities.
"If you work in restaurants, it's obvious just how vital immigrant work is," says Chris Svetlik, whose Tex-Mex restaurant Republic Cantina in Truxton Circle and Hill East Burger bar in Southeast DC are among those closing today. "It's just been very concerning to see the rise of anti-immigrant rhetoric..."
Paolo Dungca, chef/owner of Hiraya, emphasized, "I'm also an immigrant, so I felt like it's the best decision for us to kind of just show appreciation for our team..."
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