Modesto Moralez pushes a frozen treat cart through the streets of Dalton, Ga., early Friday afternoon.DALTON, Ga.-It wasn’t quite a day without immigrants in Dalton on Friday, but a couple of dozen businesses closed their doors in support of immigrants and in opposition to Georgia’s new immigration law.
Adrian Salaices closed his convenience store, Carniceria Nacho, and his family traveled to neighboring Chattanooga to spend the day to help the cause, he said.
“I thought about [whether to participate] because Friday is our busiest day and we are going to have losses, but it doesn’t matter because we need to support the community,” he said.
Groups throughout the state organized several events this weekend in opposition to House Bill 87, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011, which went into effect three days before the country celebrates Independence Day.
Friday was a “Day Without Immigrants,” when businesses were asked to close and shoppers were asked to stay home.