NYC bodegas close up shop in protest of Trump travel ban
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A sign posted on the closed doors of a deli owned by Haron Zokari, a Yemeni immigrant, alerted customers that the store would close because of a protest against President Donald Trump’s travel ban, today, in New York.
NEW YORK >> Hundreds of ethnic Yemeni business owners who operate New York City corner bodegas and neighborhood delis closed shop today in protest of President Donald Trump’s travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries.
The shops were locked at noon and were to remain shuttered until 8 p.m., according to organizers of a late afternoon rally in downtown Brooklyn. At least 1,000 Yemeni-run small businesses are a part of many New Yorkers’ daily lives, said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, who planned to attend the rally.
Haron Zokari closed his Manhattan deli at noon, as well. He said his wife and baby are stuck in Yemen after almost completing a four-year, green-card process.
“We are trying to stay strong,” he said. “There’s people there who are refugees and who are starving and running for their lives, so thank God we don’t have it as bad as they do.”
Trump’s executive order barred people from Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Syria from entering the U.S. for 90 days. Under the order, travelers have been detained, sent back from the United States or stranded in other countries.
Zaid Nagi, who owns three delis in the Bronx, said the ban disrupted plans to bring his mother to the United States, where he has lived for more than 20 years. The 36-year-old married father of four said the point of the protest was to say, “We are part of this community. We are not who this order is trying to say we are.”
He said most of his customers had expressed solidarity with the shutdown.
“They know who we are. They know we are human beings just like them,” he said. “I believe in the good people of America.”
22 responses to “NYC bodegas close up shop in protest of Trump travel ban”
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Some good people getting hurt but what about those that are hiding their intentions or those that know who is plotting but dont want to say nothing.
That’ll make all the difference in the World….lol
Of course it will. Can’t you see the fallout now? Tragic. Simply Tragic.
I’m going to find a safe place to cry.
How many refugees were charged with terrorism in the USA, regardless of what country they came from?
Yep the Chump is pis-ing off the good ones who now might have a reason to retaliate against the U.S. What a stoopid man.
How can they be good if they ever want to retaliate against the US?
All human beings have a breaking point when they are treated with disrespect and humiliation.
Who exactly has been treated with disrespect and humiliation? Failed to mention anyone.
What you fail to understand is no country on earth takes in as many legal and illegal people as we do.
Snowflakes need to quit whining. Get a life.
I’m just asking because if we are supposed to FEAR these refugees I think we should know just how dangerous they are…#MAGA
Mr. Trump wants you to live in fear. Don’t ask questions about why. Just obey him, like a lot of people here do.
He doesn’t want anyone to think. Just be afraid. Cowardice is the best tool of an authoritarian head of state.
Just read the comments here to see the level of cowardice. It’s a disgrace. I’m not sure how Republicans became such loathsome cowards.
Mr. Trump is a coward, and has always been one. He lied about a medical deferment (that he subsequently could not remember) to dodge the draft. His bluster is an attempt to wipe away that lifetime stain.
So now Trump and his supporters are scared of Syrian widows and children. He’s a loathsome coward, as are his supporters. And Trump, obviously, is a psychotic.
Another draft dodger would be Bill Clinton, the liar/womanizer who used political connections and college deferments to hide from service. And let’s not forget Joe Biden, who used a bogus asthma excuse (even though he competed athletically) along with 5 serial college deferments to escape the draft.
Yes, use your one sided diatribe and hateful rhetoric to fire up the ACLU Brownshirts.
Sounds like you the “psychotic” asstri. Afraid, be very afraid. Such losers.
Have you been in a coma for a few years? Mr. Clinton is not the President. Mr. Trump, unfortunately, is.
Perhaps you should read the dialog more closely, which is the quality of a good lawyer. The word President was never mentioned.
YES!! Shut down your business and lose money and income! That’ll teach Trump!!
MO-RONS like this shouldn’t have been allowed to immigrate here in the first place if that’s the kind of intelligence they possess and ideas they want to contribute to our nation. Another tribe of whining bottom-feeders to occupy their self-created slums. I say it’s a fantastic idea to shut your businesses and protest–all the easier for federal agencies to identify and keep an eye on possible anti-American security risks.
Do you write your comments from prison?
Did trumpf buy the rights to “Fear Factor”? He sure know how to inject this Goo Aid under their skins. 9/11 a product of Saudis extremist. No ban on $audi Arabia$? Gee even the Saudis was given U.S. air space while Americans were locked down weeks after 9/11
This is so A backwards. Good to see this POSTUS failing. More to come. Pray for Arnold S.
Yep the two conceited as-ho-es deserve each other.
Instead of running from THEIR country why don’t they stay and fight for THEIR country. They all expect the US to take a stand for them, to help them, to fight for them with our sons, daughters, fathers, brothers, cousins while they run. I agree ban them and let them take a stand. Why let them here for the us to support, educate and them have them take jobs from us. Wonder how many of these deli owner’s deal on a cash only basis (many restaurants in NYC are cash only) and then claim only a portion on taxes.
Ok with me!
Good, stay “closed” forever !!!