Bay Area Businesses Close for 'ICE Out' Protest

Dozens of local shops shut down to show solidarity with nationwide immigration action.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 9:31pm

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Dozens of businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area chose to close on Friday in solidarity with a nationwide "ICE Out" protest, while others remained open but donated profits to immigration rights groups. The one-day action called for no work, no school, and no shopping to demonstrate opposition to immigration enforcement.

Why it matters

The 'ICE Out' protest highlights the ongoing debate over immigration policy and the role businesses can play in supporting or opposing government actions. While some businesses could not afford to close, others saw it as an opportunity to use their economic power to align with their values and support immigrant communities.

The details

Ordinaire Wine Shop & Bar in Oakland was one of the local businesses that decided to close, with owner Bradford Taylor saying "We recognize these killings and the continued oppression of immigrants as part of a system that prioritizes profit over human, and so by closing, it's just a statement from us that we are going to prioritize humans over profit." Other businesses like Third Culture Bakery stayed open but donated profits to immigration rights groups.

  • The nationwide 'ICE Out' protest took place on Friday, January 31, 2026.

The players

Ordinaire Wine Shop & Bar

An Oakland business that closed in solidarity with the 'ICE Out' protest.

Bradford Taylor

The owner of Ordinaire Wine Shop & Bar.

Third Culture Bakery

A bakery with locations in Walnut Creek and Berkeley that remained open but donated profits to immigration rights groups.

Sam Butarbutar

The Culinary Director of Third Culture Bakery.

Farhad Sabetan

An economics professor at California State University, East Bay who commented on the potential impact of the protest.

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What they’re saying

“We recognize these killings and the continued oppression of immigrants as part of a system that prioritizes profit over human, and so by closing, it's just a statement from us that we are going to prioritize humans over profit and take the financial hit.”

— Bradford Taylor, Owner, Ordinaire Wine Shop & Bar (nbcbayarea.com)

“We have to remain open in order to provide the livelihood of our staff members.”

— Sam Butarbutar, Culinary Director, Third Culture Bakery (nbcbayarea.com)

“I think more than impacting the economy, it's actually a message being sent that businesses are suffering and they could be suffering even more if the activities, if the arrests and all of that is continued.”

— Farhad Sabetan, Economics Professor, California State University, East Bay (nbcbayarea.com)

What’s next

Businesses and community members will continue to monitor the impact of immigration enforcement actions and determine if further protests or economic actions are warranted.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the growing role businesses are playing in social and political issues, using their economic power to support causes they believe in. While a one-day strike may have limited economic impact, it serves as a symbolic statement that businesses are willing to make sacrifices to align with their values and support immigrant communities.