Some Fresno businesses closed today in protest. ‘We stand with the people of Minneapolis’
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- Fresno Latino and other small businesses closed operations today to protest ICE actions and support immigrant communities.
- Some closures paid hourly staff and launched community hubs, while others urged locals to shop immigrant-owned businesses.
- Fresno Unified kept schools open, allowing on-campus expression but marking off-campus strike absences unexcused.
Latino and other small businesses across Fresno are protesting ICE actions and showing solidarity with immigrant communities today as part of a nationwide general strike calling for a shutdown of normal operations to oppose immigration enforcement actions and their impact on immigrant communities.
The Fresno Bee found multiple businesses planning to close today, many delivering the news on social media and some releasing statements about the immigration crackdown and recent killings in Minneapolis.
El Jabalito, a Filipino food truck in Fresno, said it will be closed today.
“As two business owners with immigrant and Indigenous/Mexican roots, Jake and I carry our histories with us and feel the weight of what’s happening in our communities and in our country,” the owners said in a statement. “We are taking the day to pause, reflect, and be present. Thank you for understanding.”
All Touchstone gyms will also be closed today.
“We stand with the people of Minneapolis and with our employees,” the company wrote in an Instagram post. “We are closing as part of the national general strike in opposition to ICE and the violence, fear, and harm they continue to inflict on immigrant communities and those who stand with them.” The company added that all hourly employees who were scheduled to work will still be paid.
They said the decision was not made lightly, but that they no longer feel it acceptable to remain silent.
Judging by the Cover, a bookstore in Fresno, also announced it would close today in solidarity with the “ICE Out” general strike.
“We typically stay open during these strikes because small businesses are often excluded from the calls to action; however, after a lot of discussion, we’ve opted to close completely today,” owners Carlos and Ashley Mireles-Guerrero said.
They described the general strike as a protest against ongoing state violence, including recent killings by ICE and Border Patrol agents that have sparked national outrage and mobilization. In a lengthy statement, the owners also called for the abolition of ICE and encouraged community members to use the day to learn about broader systems of incarceration and state violence.
“We are all being pressured to perform productivity inside a capitalist fascist state that depends on our exhaustion,” they wrote. “We are expected to keep selling, keep working, keep smiling, while people are murdered, caged, disappeared, deported, assaulted, and dehumanized. We refuse. Shut it down.”
My Homies Kitchen in Fresno said it will also be closed today in solidarity. The owners said it was important for them to participate in the shutdown as a show of support for immigrant communities.
The business also announced the opening of King Kulture Connection, an entrepreneurial hub and clothing lounge designed for designers and entrepreneurs to showcase their merchandise and build visibility.
Meanwhile, Frida Cafe said it would remain open today due to financial obligations but emphasized that it stands “100% with this movement.” The owner said employees were given the option to take the day off, and that he is operating the café alone.
“We love you, we appreciate you, and we stand with you,” he said in an Instagram reel.
He added that Casita Feliz, a nonprofit supporting Latino communities, will be onsite providing information about immigration and other resources.
Sour Milk Shop in Fresno also announced it is joining the general strike in solidarity with Minneapolis, immigrants, and “anyone else caught in the crosshairs of the administration.”
The shop is encouraging others to participate through “no work, no spending, and no social media,” while also urging residents to support immigrant-owned businesses within their communities.
“Spend your money in your community. Support immigrant-owned businesses. Love your neighbors...,” the statement read.
The shop said it will return to regular business hours on Saturday.
Carmen Serrato, owner of Modernist and Bespoke—two cocktail bars in the Brewery district—said the businesses would remain open, adding that “30% of our proceeds will be donated to organizations supporting our immigrant community.”
A first-generation, Mexican-American Latina and Fresno native, Serrato said the last few weeks surrounding ICE’s actions have struck a deep chord with her.
“It’s brought up feelings ranging from shock and sadness to anger and pain,” she said. “ These are not the criminals being portrayed. These are my neighbors, many of the most kind and hardworking people I’ve ever known.”
“This is one small way I can show up when it matters most. I believe in humanity, dignity, and the right to live without fear. I stand with my community — today and always,” she added.
Meanwhile, Fresno Unified School District released a statement saying that schools would remain open and that “school sites are prepared to support student expression on campus and will provide appropriate guidance, resources and opportunities for respectful dialogue within a safe school environment.”
“We respect our students’ voices and their right to express themselves on issues that matter to them,” the statement read. “At the same time, student safety remains our highest priority, and we have concerns about students participating in off-campus activities during the school day.”
The district added that absences related to off-campus participation during the school day will be considered unexcused.
This story was originally published January 30, 2026 at 9:06 AM with the headline "Some Fresno businesses closed today in protest. ‘We stand with the people of Minneapolis’."
