Some Centre County businesses protest ICE by closing, donating proceeds Friday
A handful of Centre County small businesses closed on Friday or pledged to donate proceeds to groups supporting immigrants as part of a nationwide general strike to protest the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
The strike, which activists have dubbed “National Shutdown” and “ICE Out,” was an effort to grind economic activity to a halt through a day of “no school, no work and no shopping.” It came six days after the death of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis man who federal agents beat and shot in the back after being disarmed, and amid a crackdown on tens of thousands of immigrants by masked federal agents.
“I do tend to keep my head in the sand quite a bit, just for my own mental well-being,” said Staci Egan, the owner of the Smith and Front gift shop in Bellefonte. “But when I see things that seem heavy or that need to be addressed, I’m not shy about it.”
Egan was among at least three small businesses in the county that participated in the strike, but opted to stay open. At least two closed on Friday.
“I don’t feel like shutting down really helps, but if we could take actual money and put it towards something, I felt like that could go further,” she said. Egan’s shop is donating 10% of the money it made Friday to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, a San Francisco-based immigration law nonprofit.
The actions of the striking business were loosely coordinated, according to several small business owners. Most participants showed solidarity by sharing a Quaker and Pennsylvania Dutch-inspired graphic created by State College Area High School teacher Jennifer Rand depicting a ruffed grouse, the state bird, over an icon evoking the Star Wars Rebel Alliance. Rand said she took inspiration from a piece of protective gear she saw a protester wearing in Minneapolis.
Local business owners are said to have discussed shutting their doors Friday in a group chat and in person. Most who participated in the strike opted to stay open and donate some proceeds because they couldn’t afford to close after a week of slow business due to snow and frigid temperatures.
“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,” said Bromlyn Fitzgerald, the owner of Shaky Hands Coffee Shop in Bellefonte. She ended up telling another business owner when she stopped by her store, “ I probably won’t close, but I will donate a portion of our sales.”
Shaky Hands is sending 10% of proceeds through Sunday to the National Bail Fund Network, which helps immigrants stay out of jail ahead of trial.
“All of these things have made me feel scared, powerless,” Fitzgerald said of the actions of the Trump administration.
While at least one business, the Rush Township climbing gear manufacturer Organic Climbing, joined the Print Factory in closing its doors Friday, it was largely business as usual in the area. Penn Staters patronized Starbucks and Target, Amazon drivers made deliveries and the Bellefonte office of Republican Rep. Glenn Thompson, which sees protests most Tuesdays, was quiet.
Rand, the teacher, said she hadn’t heard of any walkouts at her school.
“Everyone had different ideas on what they should do, and a lot of people feel like they shouldn’t bring politics into business,” Egan said, describing the group chat conversation between Bellefonte business owners
But for the few who did participate or expressed support, said Amy Frank, Friday’s action was “about making a statement as a nation.”
“When people stop the consumer machine, a lot of things shut down,” said Frank, who owns The Makery, a nonprofit craft store and studio in State College.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 6:18 p.m. Feb. 5, 2026, to amend a reference to a Bellefonte business owner.
This story was originally published January 30, 2026 at 7:51 PM.
