Centre County businesses protest ICE by closing, donating proceeds

A handful of small businesses in Pennsylvania's Centre County participated in a nationwide 'National Shutdown' protest against immigration policies.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 7:15pm

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A handful of small businesses in Centre County, Pennsylvania closed or donated a portion of their proceeds on Friday as part of a nationwide 'National Shutdown' protest against the Trump administration's immigration policies. The loosely coordinated effort saw some businesses close their doors, while others stayed open but donated a percentage of sales to immigrant advocacy groups. The actions came amid a crackdown on immigrants by federal agents and the recent death of a Minneapolis man during an encounter with ICE.

Why it matters

The 'National Shutdown' protest was an attempt to disrupt economic activity and raise awareness about the impacts of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts. While participation was limited in Centre County, the actions reflect growing concerns among some small business owners about the administration's policies and their effects on immigrant communities.

The details

Several Centre County businesses, including the Smith and Front gift shop, Shaky Hands Coffee Shop, and the Print Factory bookstore, either closed for the day or pledged to donate a portion of their Friday sales to immigrant advocacy groups. The actions were loosely coordinated, with many participants sharing a graphic created by a local teacher. Some business owners said they couldn't afford to fully close but wanted to show support. Others felt bringing politics into business was inappropriate. Overall, the protest was an effort to 'grind economic activity to a halt' and make a statement against the administration's immigration crackdown.

  • The protest took place on Friday, January 31, 2026.
  • It came six days after the death of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis man who was beaten and shot by federal agents.

The players

Staci Egan

The owner of the Smith and Front gift shop in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, who participated in the protest by donating 10% of her shop's Friday sales to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

Bromlyn Fitzgerald

The owner of Shaky Hands Coffee Shop in Bellefonte, who said she couldn't afford to close but donated 10% of proceeds through Sunday to the National Bail Fund Network.

Mandisa Haarhoff and Barrett Marshall

Owners of the Print Factory bookstore in Bellefonte, who spoke with other local businesses about shutting down for the protest.

Jennifer Rand

A teacher at State College Area High School who created a graphic used by participating businesses to show solidarity with the protest.

Amy Frank

The owner of The Makery, a nonprofit craft store and studio in State College, who said the protest was 'about making a statement as a nation.'

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What they’re saying

“I do tend to keep my head in the sand quite a bit, just for my own mental well-being. But when I see things that seem heavy or that need to be addressed, I'm not shy about it.”

— Staci Egan, Owner, Smith and Front gift shop (centredaily.com)

“Being our first year in business, being a small business and having a team that I need to support, closing is not really an option unless it's, like, bad weather. So I had told them when they came in, you know, I probably won't close, but I will donate a portion of our sales.”

— Bromlyn Fitzgerald, Owner, Shaky Hands Coffee Shop (centredaily.com)

“When people stop the consumer machine, a lot of things shut down.”

— Amy Frank, Owner, The Makery (centredaily.com)

What’s next

The actions of the striking businesses were loosely coordinated, and it's unclear if there are any plans for further protests or coordinated efforts in the future.

The takeaway

The 'National Shutdown' protest in Centre County highlights the growing concerns among some small business owners about the Trump administration's immigration policies and their willingness to take action, even if it means temporarily disrupting their own operations. While participation was limited, the actions reflect a desire to make a statement and support immigrant communities.