Yemeni American merchants have declared a shutdown of their bodegas and grocery stores on Thursday from 12:00pm – 8:00pm to send the message that they and their families play a vital role in the economic and social fabric of New York. There are 4 – 6,000 bodegas and grocery stores owned by Yemeni Americans across the city.

This Thursday, February 2, at 4:30pm at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St. in the back of the building facing the plaza, the Yemeni American community will hold a rally where some merchants will share the impact the Ban has had on them and their loved one.

Houses of worship, immigrant groups, police reform groups, civil rights groups and individual allies are invited to join the rally. The program will start at 5:15pm where community members will assemble to make the sun-down prayer in the plaza with allies encircling the prayer with locked arms in a U shape.  The call to prayer will be made and prayer performed.  The prayer will be followed with Yemeni merchants and their families telling their stories.