Bay Area businesses and schools plan walkouts, closures Friday for ‘National Day of Action’

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — On Friday, a ‘National Day of Action’ is planned, encouraging people to avoid shopping, school and work in solidarity with protesters in Minnesota.

Across the street from the VA in Menlo Park, community members gathered on Thursday evening to remember and honor Alex Pretti. The 37-year-old was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis last weekend. Pretti worked at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as an ICU nurse.

“For me it was seeing a fellow federal worker getting murdered in the street and seeing nothing from the administration,” on protester said.

Organizations supporting the event included Veterans for Peace, Raging Grannies, the local chapter of a government employees union and more. Many federal workers telling us since they can’t strike – this is how they’re making their voices heard.

San Francisco resident Josh Zeier said this moment in time feels like a turning point.

MORE: Bay Area protesters rally after ICU nurse Alex Pretti fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis

“I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much over someone I never met and so, I just really like it was really important to say something and to do something to honor his memory and to speak to the values that we hold as people who work in healthcare and take care of Veterans every day,” Zeier said.

The demonstration encourages people to avoid shopping, school and work in solidarity with protesters in Minnesota. From a running store in Burlingame, to a bakery in Oakland. Many small businesses are closing their doors for the day.

We spoke with worker and owner Adrien Sanderson of Arizmendi Bakery, a cooperatively-run bakery.

“We felt that, that was part of what it meant to be in solidarity that these small inconveniences were so insignificant to what is actually happening to the country and it is the least that we can do to manage these inconveniences on our end in order to stand in solidarity,” Sanderson said.

Back in Menlo Park, one organizer told us it’s demonstrations like these that feel inspiring and show the best in humanity during times the worst may be on display.