Richmond-area stores closed for ‘A Day Without Immigrants’

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - At least a dozen businesses are closed in the Richmond area as part of the nationwide “A Day Without Immigrants” protest.

Martin Gonzalez is the owner of La Milpa, a restaurant and grocer in Chesterfield County, which is one of several area businesses closed Thursday. He tells The Richmond Times-Dispatch (https://bit.ly/2lcgNju ) that immigrants are showing they “actually contribute to the economy.”

In Henrico County, El Ray Latino Market put a sign on its door in Spanish. The sign read: “Closed Feb 16; Reason: Standing up for Hispanics.”

Bill Paulette, chairman and CEO of a construction company KBS Inc., says a number of his employees didn’t show up for work on Thursday.

“A Day Without Immigrants” is meant to show how critical immigrants are to the U.S. economy.

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This story has been corrected to reflect that at least a dozen businesses are closed.

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Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, https://www.timesdispatch.com