In 2026, at least eight people have died in ICE custody. It’s only February. Last year, the agency recorded a two-decade high of 32 deaths.
Last week, Frederick saw a wave of local solidarity as a variety of community organizations and small businesses joined in the nationwide economic blackout, a collective pause on spending, work, and school, to protest recent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and to uplift immigrant communities.
While participation took different forms, many establishments used the moment to center care, reflection, and advocacy rather than commerce.
[Read: Anti-ICE national economic blackout planned for Friday]
At Crash & Catharsis Rage Factory, a business known for its therapeutic and expressive spaces, owner Crystal Williams-Palmer emphasized that participation didn’t have to look like closure. In a posted statement, she wrote:
“We’ve decided to remain open tomorrow. Not to encourage spending — but to hold space…”
The Rage Factory also offered its Scream into the Abyss room free of charge and pledged $5 from every booking to the National Immigrant Justice Center.
Curious Iguana Books echoed a similar sentiment of belonging and accessibility, inviting community members inside regardless of whether they planned to shop:
“…If you need a space to warm up, talk about the books you love, browse the shelves to quiet your mind, or just exist in a safe place where you are loved and welcome, we are here for you, no purchase required.”
The bookstore also highlighted its ongoing financial support of the Luminus Network for New Americans, a Maryland-based nonprofit serving immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Some Frederick businesses chose to close entirely. Chappelle & Co. owner Amira shared a direct and personal explanation for shutting the doors in observance of the shutdown:
“The shop will be CLOSED today in support of the shutdown… Still, I’m choosing to show my support in the most intentional way I can.”
She added that a portion of weekend sales would be donated to Monarca to support immigrant advocacy and community care.
Across Frederick, these gestures painted a picture of a community willing to reinterpret economic protest through care, solidarity, and local action. Other establishments posted signs of support or offered warm spaces for reflection, conversation, and connection throughout the day, mirroring a national message. Together, these actions reflected a broader local response that demonstrated how Frederick’s small business community continues to engage with national conversations while grounding their efforts in compassion and neighborly support.
[READ: Fear and Resistance: Frederick’s Response to Immigration Raids]
While the nationwide blackout sparked debate in business circles, Frederick’s response demonstrated that protest can be both a pause and a practice, a day where commerce and compassion intersected in support of immigrant rights and collective well-being.
Photo Credit: Facebook, Timothy Jacobsen