Webster Groves Businesses Donate Profits During National Strike Against ICE

As part of the Jan. 30 “national shutdown,” protestors and organizations across the country participated in a general strike to halt the economy, protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for their increased use of violence, resulting in the deaths of detained immigrants and protestors.

While the movement encouraged people to avoid work, school and shopping, some businesses in Webster Groves adapted by remaining open while opting to donate to local organizations that provide immigrants with legal services, advocacy, education and general resources, including the Migrant and Immigrant Community Action (MICA) Project.

Betty’s Books opened its doors with the intention to create a space for the community to gather while still supporting the shutdown. Owner Betty Bayer decided to organize an opportunity for visitors to directly make a difference by writing letters to their representatives and folding informational zines about how to report ICE while keeping community members safe.

A portion of the day’s proceeds — with a minimum donation of $100 — was donated to the MICA Project, though the total was likely higher as the store was unusually busy.

“We wanted to choose something that felt authentic, especially to our community in St. Louis, and then what would also fit what we have to offer,” Bayer said. “…We decided [on] being open, but having things for, you know, free coffee, creating a space where people could write letters and the resources to do so and making a donation at the end of the day. That felt like, for us, the best use of our resources and what we have to give.”

By 3 p.m., dozens of envelopes and postcards sat in a bin, waiting to be sent out by the business at the end of the day.

Among these letters includes the contributions of Emma Tippen, a psychology major at Webster University. Tippen, an employee of Betty’s Books, came in on her day off to help support the cause.

“I think everything is so frustrating,” Tippen said. “A lot of times when I think about this stuff, I think about what’s it going to look like in 10 years and how people will compare this.I mean, people are getting killed just for their beliefs by police, which — we’ve seen this before. And it’s so strange that we educate ourselves so much, ‘never forget’, ‘this was a horrible atrocity,’ and now we’re doing it again.”

The store asserts itself as a safe space, a sign taped to the door reading “Everyone is welcome here EXCEPT ICE” and ensuring that employees are trained on how to respond if ICE attempts to enter the store. They began this work in November after the store connected with the MICA Project.

Attendees, such as Amanda Alway, took the day off work to participate in the strike, but wanted to do more to take action within her community.

“I was looking for something I could do that would make me feel like part of a community, basically. So I was like, ‘well I’m going to do the strike, but I don’t want to sit around at home. I can go out and do something and not spend money,’” Alway said. “And then I saw this, so I was like, “it’s perfect.’ It makes me feel like I can make a difference in some way.”

Alway invited friend Chrissie Watkins to join her and she enthusiastically agreed.

“I feel that it’s just really important to be with people and stand together and make sure that we have a good and safe world for other kids and things,” Watkins said. “So, if I can do anything to help that and alleviate some of that stress, then I want to because it’s really scary. It impacts everybody.”